NWO awards funding for research on role of pension sector in sustainability transition
What is the role of the Dutch pension sector in the sustainability transition? The NWO (Dutch Research Council) awards a prestigious grant to a consortium led by Netspar. The Netspar directors: “With this research we want to contribute from different scientific angles to more insight into the preferences of participants, the preconditions within laws and regulations, and the communication about them.”
The sustainability transition is a major challenge currently facing the Netherlands. The Dutch pension and insurance sector, which collectively manages approximately €2,000 billion, can play a key role in the sustainability transition by shifting capital flows and through active “engagement” with companies. However, there is little understanding of what the sector may, can, and what pension participants want.
Although the pension sector is in a unique position to accelerate the sustainability transition, its role in this is still limited. Science director Mathijs van Dijk of Netspar explains, “Pension funds manage large assets and face difficult choices in a changing social context. At the same time, previous studies show that participants often have divergent views. This research helps to gain a better understanding of that force field.”
What makes the consortium special is the collaboration between science and the pension sector, and the applicable knowledge it can produce. Brüggen: “This award enables us, together with the pension sector and scientific partners, to further explore the complex questions surrounding the possible role of pension funds in the sustainability transition. We thereby provide knowledge that can help pension funds in their considerations and policy choices.”
Saskia ter Ellen, Director of Knowledge Dissemination at Netspar: “The research reflects the strength of Netspar: scientific depth and close collaboration with the sector. Through co-creation with the pension sector, our research questions and insights are directly linked to practice. This increases the relevance of the research and accelerates the social impact. We will also use our usual and effective knowledge-sharing channels to further disseminate the useful knowledge and thus contribute to a successful and widely supported transition.”
Netspar directors Lisa Brüggen, Mathijs van Dijk and Saskia ter Ellen
Multidisciplinary consortium
The multidisciplinary consortium works under the title “Clarifying the Dutch pension sector’s role in the sustainability transition.” In addition to lead applicant Prof. Dr. Lisa Brüggen, the following researchers are part of the research team:
- Prof. Dr. Rob Bauer (Maastricht University)
- Dr. Thijs Bouman (University of Groningen)
- Prof. Dr. Mathijs van Dijk (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
- Dr. Saskia ter Ellen
- Prof. Dr. Ans Kolk (University of Amsterdam)
- Prof. Dr. Arno Kourula (University of Amsterdam)
- Prof. Dr. Erik Lutjens (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
- Dr. Emilio Marti (Erasmus University Amsterdam)
- Prof. Dr. Linda Steg (University of Groningen)
- Dr. ing. Niels van de Ven (Tilburg University)
The scientific perspectives they represent are finance, economics, law, psychology, strategy, business sciences, sustainable management, consumer behavior and marketing.
The consortium is supported by the following project partners, each contributing to the implementation and application of the research:
- VU Amsterdam
- Cranfield University (UK)
- SBZ Pension
- CNV
- Eumedion
- Netspar
- Retail pension fund
- DLA Piper N.V.
- Maastricht University
- Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets
- DSM-Fimenich
- University of Amsterdam
- United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment
- Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn (PFZW)