Embassy Science Fellowship: Netherlands and Brazil

Embassy Science Fellowship: Netherlands and Brazil

Pre-announcement: Embassy Science Fellowship (ESF-NL) programme

After a successful start in 2022, NWO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are looking for new Embassy Science Fellows. This is a superb opportunity for researchers, during a short period (1 to 3 months), to go abroad and contribute to a scientific and/or societal issue from the Dutch embassies, consulates, permanent representations or (trade)offices. ‘It crosses the bridge between academia and embassies,’ says prof. Dirk-Jan Koch (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The Embassy Science Fellowships will start in the course of 2023. The deadline is 13 June 2023.

Download the information guide

Information guide ESF-NL

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Create an international scientific and societal network

The Embassy Science Fellowship programme (ESF-NL) provides Dutch embassies, consulates, permanent representations and (trade)offices access to expertise in the scientific and technological fields from universities or other knowledge institutions. Researchers therefore gain the opportunity to acquire experience in the diplomatic world and with Dutch foreign policy. For researchers, it is also an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how their discipline works in different circumstances. The fellowship also gives them the personal experience of living temporarily abroad, and the possibility to create and further develop an international scientific and societal network.

Themes

The ESF-NL programme is demand-driven. Dutch embassies, consulates, permanent representations and (trade)offices have formulated their requirements for scientific knowledge or have planned science-related activities. Researchers can apply for these opportunities by submitting a proposal. The fellowships that are now available concern 16 different assignments:

• Bangladesh, Dhaka (Embassy)  Public investments in adaptive and integrated water management: the transition from an developing country to an equal partner country. How can cooperation be stimulated in the field of sustainable trade, investment and knowledge exchange without decentralized development financing?
• Brazil, Brasilia / São Paulo (Embassy / Consulate)  The Amazon: an overview of the research landscape and recommendations for the Dutch approach.
• China, Beijing / Guangzhou (Embassy / Consulate) Sustainable chemistry: shared societal challenges in the field of energy transition and circular economy.
• Germany, Berlin (Embassy) Practice-oriented approach in education: how can the Netherlands learn from the practice-oriented approach of German education?
• France, Paris (Embassy) Quantum technology: applications of quantum in the field of sustainability.
• India, New Delhi (Embassy) Scaling up for more impact on long-term objectives such as the SDGs: developing a methodology to convert the cooperation in projects into long-term programming.
• Indonesia, Jakarta (Embassy) Digital care transformation and innovation: approach for an exchange of knowledge and expertise.
• Israel, Tel Aviv (Embassy) Room for the River (RvdR) in the Israeli context: best practices from the Dutch water programme.
• Japan, Tokyo (Embassy) Battery technology: focus areas for the Netherlands-Japan partnership.
• Kenya, Nairobi (Embassy) People-centred justice: where are the opportunities and how can the international community contribute?
• South Korea, Seoul (Embassy) Artificial Intelligence: geopolitical and security-related implications of new technology.
• Switzerland, Geneva (Permanent representation) Evidence-based working method in multilateral organizations and the involvement of knowledge organisations.
• Taiwan, Taipei (Netherlands Office Taipei)  Sustainable production methods in the semiconductor industry in Taiwan: challenges and strategies for improving sustainability performance
• Turkey, Ankara/ Istanbul(Embassy / Consulate) Circular strategy in the Turkish construction sector and the Dutch participation on this subject in the reconstruction after the earthquakes in February.
• United Kingdom, London (Embassy)  Digital Open Strategic Autonomy: differences and similarities between Dutch and British positions and policy initiatives.
• United States of America, Washington DC (Embassy) The fentanyl crisis: an integral view of the fentanyl crisis and intervention proposals to prevent it spreading to the Netherlands.

Provisional timeline, deadlines and budget

The deadline for applications is 13 June 2023. For more information on the assignments, conditions selection procedure and fees, see the information guide. The final Call for proposals will be published on NWO’s website (late April).

Per individual applicant, a maximum of € 25,000 can be applied for. The maximum duration of the proposed fellowship is 1 to 3 months.

ESF-NL offers embassies insight into the issues they are dealing with on a more academic level, and with getting access to a scientific network.

Prof. Dirk-Jan Koch (Chief Science Officer Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radboud University Nijmegen)

ESF-NL

ESF-NL is an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Strategic Policy Unit) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and is being realised in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Via this programme Dutch embassies, consulates, permanent representations and (trade)offices can temporarily strengthen their capacity by accommodating researchers. The researchers give an extra boost to the scientific collaboration with third countries and provide scientific knowledge to base policy upon.