Mission and vision
NIOZ is the leading Dutch marine research institute, dedicated to advancing ocean science, biodiversity, and climate research for a sustainable future.
Our mission
Knowing the seas to safeguard our future
NIOZ, the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, is the national oceanographic institute and the Netherlands’ centre of expertise for ocean, sea and coast. We advance fundamental understanding of marine systems, the way they change, the role they play in climate and biodiversity, and how they may provide sustainable solutions to society in the future.
Our vision
Sustainable seas
In these crucial decades for the planet, NIOZ, with its unique blend of science and seagoing operations, plays an important role in advancing our fundamental understanding of changes in marine processes, the stability of marine systems, possible tipping points and potential solutions to address the big societal questions that are posed by the climate and biodiversity crises.
Our science
Sea research from climate to biodiversity
The overarching research questions at NIOZ are related to understanding how marine systems work, how they are changing due to anthropogenic and natural impacts, and what benefits can be obtained from them in a sustainable manner.
Our tools
Novel ships, data and instruments
We strive for scientific excellence in our research and provide the Netherlands’ marine scientific community with state-of-the-art research vessels and equipment and maintain strong international collaborations.
Our people
Freedom to succeed
NIOZ follows the NWO strategy. We want to be a transparent institute with a healthy working climate and an inclusive culture, where people from diverse backgrounds and gender bring their talents and further develop these talents. We aim for inclusive decision-making processes and expect our leadership to show visible commitment, awareness of bias, and cultural intelligence. In the collective of NWO institutes, NIOZ is working towards an inclusive system of recognition and rewards that serves our own personnel.
Our core values
Responsibility to engage
Our core values are collaboration, independence and openness, sustainability, responsibility and accountability.