Positive evaluation confirms key role of TDCCs and secures next funding period

NWO has published the external evaluation report of the three Thematic Digital Competence Centres (TDCC‑LSH, TDCC‑NES, TDCC‑SSH). The report concludes that the TDCCs have become an essential part of the Dutch digital research ecosystem, recognising the progress made since their establishment in 2022–2023.

The evaluation highlights that the TDCCs have successfully built active national communities, strengthened cross‑institutional collaboration, and initiated domain‑driven projects that address shared digital challenges. Their community‑based approach is described as distinctive and effective, and the TDCCs are acknowledged as important connectors between researchers, research support professionals, infrastructures, and funders.

A key outcome of the evaluation is NWO’s positive decision regarding the continuation of the funding for the TDCCs for the period 2027-2031. 

At the same time, the evaluation committee advises to improve the positioning, the long‑term sustainability, and the embedding within the broader ecosystem. In response, NWO’s permanent advisory Committee Digitalisation of Research (Committee DO) calls upon NWO and the broader field to work alongside the TDCCs to help address these issues.    

The report can be read on the NWO webpage, along with the first response of the Committee DO (digitalisering onderzoek) and the NWO Board response, in the form of a letter to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).