As of 18 July 2025, Stefan Kuks has left the Strategy and Advisory Council (SAR). of the KIN Pact, the community of the Climate Research Initiative Netherlands (KIN). As water board member for Vechtstromen, chair of the Delta Programme on Spatial Adaptation and professor of Innovation and Implementation of Water Policy at the University of Twente, Stefan has been closely involved in many projects since February 2024. Now that KIN has entered its next phase and new programmes have been launched, he sees a new role for himself: “I will be specifically involved in a KIN collaboration in the eastern Netherlands in Drought Resilience, a programme run by the University of Twente with strong regional involvement, including the Vechtstromen water board, Vitens drinking water company, the province of Overijssel, Koninklijke Grolsch, and the Twente Board, aimed at dealing with water availability in a different way., de Twenste Golf. This ties in well with my experience and background, and I can immediately contribute to the climate transition.”
One year of SAR: working from practice
The KIN brings together transition accelerators who want to do more in the KIN Pact. Within this, the Pact Strategy and Advisory Council (SAR) has two important tasks: the members advise the KIN on which issues from the social partners they should focus on by identifying and prioritising them (advice). Secondly, the SAR plays a role in the strategic development of the Pact, for example, how we can make the community as diverse, inclusive and transparent as possible (strategy). This first SAR was launched in March 2024 with 10 members, each with solid experience in various aspects of climate transitions from their different positions. Together, they bring diverse perspectives on climate transitions from the fields of psychology, the financial sector, water management, policy and energy transition. SAR members remain in office for at least one year, during which time attention is also paid to the further development of the council itself.
The first SAR recommendation was delivered on 1 July 2025 as a compass for KIN to achieve impact. In it, the SAR identifies four broad tasks for (climate) transitions that overlap with the list of knowledge questions that KIN collected in 2023 through a national open call. The broad tasks are all complex, but that is precisely why KIN can add value here. Another important part of the SAR advice to KIN is to focus on the problem and solution owners in society rather than rolling out large programmes on its own initiative. “An advice with a major impact on KIN’s approach. The starting point is now the question: ‘Who is losing sleep over this problem? And who can also be part of the solution?”
One year after the advice, KIN is launching an innovative subsidy instrument this summer that aims to do exactly that: develop solution directions in which social partners and knowledge partners work together.
Successor to Stefan
With Stefan’s departure and a new phase for the SAR in selecting and prioritising themes that fit into the renewed Knowledge in Action approach, the KIN is looking to strengthen its team. To ensure diversity and background, we are looking for people from the social sector, such as NGOs, government agencies or the business community.
Given the important themes involved, expertise in biodiversity, agriculture and health, as well as knowledge of governance and policy, for example, would be a valuable addition to the council.
Would you like to know more about the SAR? Please contact Community Manager Rosa van den Berg, r.vandenberg@nwo.nl