Creating more room for education and research
Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) wants to makemore money available in the coming period for education and research, tosecure and strengthen its position as knowledge partner in the fields oflife sciences and natural resources (food and the environment). The organisationintends to makes savings by reducing overheads (head office, administrativepersonnel, services and facilities) and through more efficient purchasing.Plans already made will lead to cost reductions of 25%, and of the moneyreleased as a result, ten million euros will be directed to research andeducation at Wageningen University.
A reduction of overhead costs was announced in the action plan, Focus2006. This plan was presented in April 2004 in response to difficult marketconditions and the declining financial situation of the market-orientedresearch institutes that are part of Wageningen UR together with WageningenUniversity and Van Hall Larenstein Schools of Professional Education. Focus2006 is a two-year plan containing three lines of action: (1) buildingdown and converting expertise in the research institutes that are experiencinglittle or no market demand, (2) cost reductions in overheads and supportservices, and (3) reinforcing the national and international market positionof Wageningen UR. A reduction of 400 FTE was announced in April 2004. Sincethen there has already been a reduction of 250 FTE in the research institutes,as a result of natural wastage and alternative employment opportunities.Most reductions have been in the institutes engaged in plant research,livestock husbandry research, and water and landscape research.
The latest analysis of the expertise available within the research institutesand its market relevance indicates that further reductions will take placewithin livestock husbandry research, and that a number of the areas ofexpertise will be consolidated with the relevant expertise present withinWageningen University.
In the field of research on human nutrition Wageningen UR has chosen toconcentrate on pre-competitive research, which is part of the key focusarea Flowers & Food selected last year by the government InnovationPlatform headed by the Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, and now beingbacked by the ministries of agriculture and economic affairs. Strategicchoices, streamlining and cooperation will result in a national Food & NutritionDelta, with Wageningen (Food Valley) at its core. Wageningen UR will focuson the more innovative and pre-competitive research, and as a result partsof the Agrotechnology & Food Innovations (A&F) research institutewill team up with the nutrition research carried out by the university.For the more short-term oriented competitive research in this area, WageningenUR will seek external partners.
The agrotechnology activities carried out by A&F will be transferredto the relevant animal and plant sciences research departments of WageningenUR. The fields of action Quality in Chains and Bio-Based Products willcontinue their work in close cooperation with the University.
By making clear choices, combining expertise and strengthening cooperationwithin and outside the organisation, Wageningen UR aims to achieve a criticalmass so as to be able to further extend its already strong national andinternational scientific standing in the areas of agrotechnology and nutrition.
The continued implementation of Focus 2006 means a further reduction of350 FTE. The basis for the necessary reductions will be natural wastageand active guidance and supervision in internal and external placement.The proposed decision will be further discussed with the representativecouncil and unions.
Wageningen UR was established in 1997 and consists of:
Research institutes: Alterra, Agrotechnology & Food Innovations, PlantResearch International, Applied Plant Research, Animal Sciences Group,LEI;
Statutory research tasks carried out by CIDC (Central Institute for AnimalDisease Control) and Rikilt – Institute of Food Safety;
Wageningen Business School and IAC (International Agricultural Centre);
Van Hall & Larenstein Universities of professional education;
Wageningen University.
Wageningen UR has 7500 employees, of whom about 4000 working in the researchinstitutes.
NOTE FOR THE EDITOR
More information can be obtained at Corporate Communication WageningenUR, Simon Vink, 0317 482466 or 06 53831629 or Simon.vink@wur.nl