Amsterdam, Netherlands - SEO Economisch Onderzoek

This would equal one quarter of the total regional economy (Gemeente Amsterdam et al., 2008:23). The report identifies a list of 270 companies that can be considered forerunners in sustainabledevelopment. Surprisingly, the share of corporations in the sector ‘education and research’ is justa meager 3%, ‘advice’ another 11%. This would indicate that there is still a world to conquer forthe Amsterdam HEIs in the field of sustainable development.5.4.1.1 The role for scientific researchThe HEIs are trying to open up this field, but their efforts are not well coordinated. The VU is aforerunner among the HEIs with its Institute for Environmental Studies (Instituut voorMilieuvraagstukken, IVM). This is the oldest environmental research institute in the Netherlands.Its purpose is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment throughscientific research and teaching. The institute has repeatedly been evaluated as the best Dutchresearch group in this field. IVM’s research community of about 100 scientists and support staffaddresses challenging environmental problems and offers both pragmatic and innovativesolutions. The VU also hosts a Climate Center, which started in 2007 and combines expertise inthe area of climate change. The Centre for International Cooperation (CIS) of the VU specializesin management and conservation of natural resources in rural areas of the developing nations.Further the VU offers sustainability as part of many courses on bachelor and master level.The UvA likewise has several focal points in research related to sustainable development. Thisconcerns for example the law faculty with a specialization in environmental law (Centrum voormilieurecht). The Amsterdam Institute for metropolitan and International Development Studiesalso has many research themes related to sustainability. The UvA holding also hosts IVAM, aconsultancy and research organization for sustainability. IVAM focuses on many areas ofsustainable development like energy transition processes, sustainable urban development andclean processes for consumption and production. Further, there is cooperation between thescience faculty of the UvA and the city community in developing urban ecology as a scientifictheme. The faculty hosts many other research programs related to this topic such as watermanagement and sustainable chemistry. Research supports a broad array of courses in sustainabletopics. To cite one example, the Amsterdam business school offers research and education insustainable management. UvA also offers a bachelor in Future Planet Studies.Example: New Energy DocksUvA and VU are both supporting New Energy Docks. This organization connects science withother stakeholders in the field of sustainable development such as several large firms in the region(Shell), the Kenniskring, the Amsterdamse Innovatiemotor and the city community. The aim is tosupport sustainable development through the exchange of knowledge, support for regionaleconomic development and entrepreneurship. The latter goal is realized by means of an incubator.New Energy Docks is heavily involved in the urban development of the Northern IJ shore. Itoffers programs to support entrepreneurship in sustainable development in this specificneighborhood. It also provides knowledge to planning agencies and the social housingassociations which are currently undertaken large scale housing renovations in this area. NewEnergy Docks aims to develop a new building for sustainable development initiatives which mustbecome an icon for sustainability in terms of material use and energy efficiency.New Energy Docks is a formal organization with an executive board and a board of overseers.See www.newenergydocks.nl5.4.1.2 Sustainability in the internal organizationAll HEIs have special programs to support sustainable management in the internal organization.For the UvA this is a priority, both in research but also for its internal affairs. It aims to profile theuniversity as a sustainable organization. This is achieved through distinct goals. The universityhas for example signed the third national convenant for energy-efficiency (MJA-3) which obliges113