P8-VU

Stichting VU is one of the leading research universities in Europe. Academic research and education at the Vrije Universiteit (Stichting VU) is characterized by a high level of ambition and encourages free and open communications and ideas. In 2020, Stichting VU hosted 29.796 students and 3.899 staff members, of which 1.588 scientific staff. Stichting VU comprises of 9 faculties, ranging from biomedical and sciences to humanities disciplines. Research is divided into four themes, reflecting a strong level of involvement in current societal issues: Human Health and Life Sciences, Science for Sustainability, Connected World, and Governance for Society. The total research output in 2020 translated to over 7.275 scientific publications, and 419 doctoral theses. The VU Institute for research on innovation and communication in the health and life sciences, is part of the Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences (FALW). The VU Institute has wide expertise in studying and designing science society interfaces to contribute to a robust understanding of social innovation; enrich science with increased societal legitimacy, research utilisation and societal awareness of how innovations may benefit the sustainability and equity of societies. Research at the VU Institute specifically focuses on the meaningful exchange of knowledge and expertise between scientific and non-scientific groups and the reflexive monitoring of such processes. VU developed the multi-stakeholder Interactive Learning and Action approach to Responsible Research and Innovation, which has been applied in fields such as medical biotechnology, ecological genomics, neurosciences, animal production, disease-specific health research.