Strategische Agenda 2022-2025

Strategic Agenda - Focus on the Future, Fast Forward Now 7 The ambition of Deltares is therefore to be an acknowledged 'Triple A' institute in the area of water and the subsurface, both nationally and internationally. In recent years, our policy targeted excellent knowledge at the top international level, visible added value for society and strong links between our knowledge and the market. We have achieved that ambition, as can be seen in the report from the evaluation committee of the TO2 institutes. The evaluation committee headed by Professor Suzanne Hulscher gave Deltares the highest possible score for quality. It described Deltares as a ‘top institute’ that is ‘unique worldwide with its breadth and depth’ and an organisation with ‘many highly qualified employees and unique experimental facilities’. (p. 7) ‘Deltares has a cast-iron reputation in the international research world’. (p. 44) Our stakeholders also say that we are an independent research institute ‘with no equal in the world in the field of delta issues’. (p. 31) Deltares can further enhance its impact by adopting a more active and leading role with its knowledge and setting the agenda more. (p. 45) Source: Evaluation study of the organisations for applied research (TO2). Final report, Deltares evaluation (2021) 1.1 | Our mission Enabling Delta Life is our goal. We work on knowledge that supports decision-making, even when things get complicated and the interests and impact in the locality are large. For applications now and in the future. We have been delivering reliable expertise about water and the subsurface for almost a hundred years. Our history began with the construction of the largest hydraulic- engineering projects ever: the Zuyder Sea works and later the Delta Works. For decades, our knowledge has been contributing to the maintenance of robust dikes, dams and dunes to prevent flooding. We look not only at flood risk management but also at the quality of life. We look for natural and circular solutions. We take inspiration from the latest knowledge, and base our work on the latest technological developments such as data science and future sensing. In recent years, we have placed an increasing emphasis in our work on life in the deltas, on the consequences for people, the environment and society. This is reflected in our mission-driven work and it is resulting in more and more alliances that extend beyond the boundaries of our field. Deltas Coastal areas and deltas - the dynamic areas where rivers flow into the sea - make up a small part of the world in terms of surface area. The majority of them are highly urbanised and, with respect to their size, they are inhabited by a disproportionately high number of people. They also represent enormous economic value. Levels of biological production in deltas are high and biodiversity is relatively high despite urbanisation here. All this makes deltas important around the world for both society and nature. When we talk about deltas in this Strategic Agenda, we view them in broad terms: everywhere where water management and the subsurface play a crucial role. Dare to share We engage in scientific research, develop models, set up trials and get out into the field to test the latest insights in practice. We combine theory and practice, and make sure that our knowledge can be used by others. Our philosophy is dare to share. We share our knowledge because we are convinced that an ‘open source’ approach generates opportunities to do things even better. And to learn from one another. We are working on the future with our knowledge of water and the subsurface We want a safe and sustainable life now and in the future. Deltares wants to make a contribution here as an independent institute for applied research in the field of water and the subsurface. We work in a mission-driven way. Our drive is to make a contribution with our wide-ranging and in-depth knowledge about water and the subsurface to innovative and sustainable solutions for complex and urgent challenges facing society. To work with government authorities, the business community and knowledge institutes in the Netherlands and throughout the world. Our guiding philosophy is ‘dare to share’.