Who we are
The Rathenau Instituut has been involved in research and debate about the impact of science, innovation, and technology on society for nearly 40 years. Read our history below and get to know our employees.
Who works at our institute?
Approximately 60 people work at the Rathenau Instituut.
Founded in 1986
What impact does technology have on our lives? In 1986, the government established an institute to explore this question. It was called the Netherlands Organisation for Technology Assessment, which later became the Rathenau Instituut. The founding of the Rathenau Instituut is laid down in a formal government decree.
The Rathenau Instituut is named after Gerhart Rathenau (1911–1989), one of the founding figures of Dutch science and technology policy.
KNAW
Administratively, we are part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Like universities, we operate independently from the national government, even though it provides the majority of our funding.