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What we do

Connect, Empower and Innovate

Chemistry plays a key role in solving the major social challenges of today and tomorrow. By encouraging knowledge sharing, collaboration, and professional and personal development, we increase the innovative capacity and impact of chemists. In this way, we ensure that chemists, life scientists, and process technologists - from students to professionals - can continue to make a difference in science, industry, and society.

Our activities for young chemists are bundled in the NextGen program. On this page, you will find an overview of all the activities we organize, divided into our three pillars: connecting, strengthening, and innovating.

CONNECT

Our strength lies in our ability to connect different fields, disciplines, and professionals. We offer our members a platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge and ideas. In this way, we are building a strong chemical community in the Netherlands.

CONNECTING

Expand your network during our events

Most of our events are highly substantive in nature. But they are also excellent opportunities to strengthen existing contacts and make new ones. That is why we make sure there is plenty of time for networking in our programs and proactively encourage our members to make new contacts.

  1. Jong KNCV Café Amsterdam

    Amsterdam
    De zevende editie van dit evenement.
    Read more

  2. YoungNBV - Planet B.io Tour

    Delft
    This activity is an opportunity to learn and engage with the people and facilities of Planet B.io.
    Read more

  3. MB11 Microbial Biotechnology Symposium

    Wageningen
    MB11 Microbial Biotechnology Symposium
    Read more
View all events

CONNECT & STRENGTHEN

Onboarding program (under development)

For newcomers, the chemical industry in the Netherlands can seem overwhelming and confusing. To help Dutch and non-Dutch chemists find their way in the Dutch industry, we are developing an onboarding program. We provide a ‘soft landing’, enabling students, young professionals, and expats to find their way more easily, develop more quickly, and seize opportunities that would otherwise remain out of sight. For non-Dutch newcomers, we also focus on familiarizing them with Dutch (working) culture. The onboarding program is a part of our NextGen program. 

This program is still under development. As soon as we have more information to share, we will do so here and via our newsletter.

CONNECT

We give our members a platform

Our members bring color and meaning to chemistry, life sciences, and process technology. Who are they? What are they working on? What breakthroughs are they striving for?
That is why we offer our members a platform in the KNCV newsletter and in C2W | Mens & Molecule. With personal interviews, reports on groundbreaking research results, and awards and prizes.

STRENGTHEN

Well-trained, committed, and resilient chemists are essential to the Netherlands' innovative strength. By investing in the growth of our members, we not only strengthen their career prospects, but also the chemical sector as a whole. In this way, we are working together to build a future in which chemistry continues to contribute to solutions for societal challenges.

STRENGTHEN

Deepen your professional knowledge during our events

Most of our events are highly substantive in nature. Naturally, our events allow you to deepen your knowledge of your own field, but it is also interesting to participate in events in other fields and broaden your horizons. This also allows you to meet new people. It's all possible at the KNCV!

  1. Jong KNCV Café Amsterdam

    Amsterdam
    De zevende editie van dit evenement.
    Read more

  2. YoungNBV - Planet B.io Tour

    Delft
    This activity is an opportunity to learn and engage with the people and facilities of Planet B.io.
    Read more

  3. MB11 Microbial Biotechnology Symposium

    Wageningen
    MB11 Microbial Biotechnology Symposium
    Read more

Trade journal for chemistry and life sciences

The latest C2W

C2W | Mens & Molecule is our platform for high-quality, independent science journalism on chemistry, life sciences, and process technology. As a member of the KNCV, you will receive the C2W magazine 10 times a year and have unlimited access to all articles on c2w.nl.

Now on C2W.nl:

STRENGTHEN

Stimulating and recognizing talent

One of the ways in which we strengthen the chemical sector in general and our members in particular is by presenting awards. With these awards, we want to stimulate and encourage young chemical talent to make a positive contribution to tomorrow's world. We also present awards to the more established names in the field, recognizing the impact of their work on their profession, society, and the world.

View our awards

STRENGTHEN & CONNECT

Mentor/Buddy Program

With our mentor/buddy program, we want to help students and young professionals find their way in the chemical field. We pair young members with more experienced members. The mentor/buddy helps the mentee find their way within the association and the field. The mentor also introduces the mentee to other members. In turn, the mentor learns from the mentee's way of thinking and perspective and can apply that knowledge in their work. A real win-win situation! The mentor program is a part of our NextGen program. 

A pilot program is currently underway to gain experience in fine-tuning the program. As soon as we can share more details, we will of course do so.

STRENGTHEN

Career coaches

We want to support our members in their career development. To this end, we have built up a pool of experienced career coaches with roots in chemistry. They are all experienced consultants who are happy to help you make choices in your career. The career coaches are regularly present at KNCV events to provide career advice. In addition, members can request a free exploratory coaching session.

More information

STRENGTHEN & CONNECT

Onboarding program (under development)

For newcomers, the chemical industry in the Netherlands can seem overwhelming and confusing. To help Dutch and non-Dutch chemists find their way in the Dutch industry, we are developing an onboarding program. We provide a ‘soft landing’, enabling students, young professionals, and expats to find their way better and faster, develop more quickly, and seize opportunities that would otherwise remain out of sight. For non-Dutch newcomers, we also focus on getting to know Dutch (working) culture.

We are still developing this program, so unfortunately we cannot tell you more at this time. Keep an eye on our website or sign up for our newsletter here.

Eye-openers

With Eye-openers, we offer promising young scientists a platform that allows them to reach a larger and broader audience with their research. In one minute, they explain what they are working on, what fascinates them about it, and what they are looking for. The participants are guided by an experienced presentation coach to further refine their pitch.

KNCV members benefit from a discount on the recording fee. NWO recognizes Eye-openers as a suitable outreach activity, which means that the costs can be covered by a grant.

Discover the eye-openers

STRENGTHEN

International outreach

The impact of chemists, life scientists, and process technologists extends beyond our national borders. That is why we not only maintain contacts with our sister associations abroad, but are also co-owners of the renowned international journals of Chemistry Europe and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The KNCV receives royalties for every article written by a chemist, life scientist, or process technologist based in the Netherlands and published in one of these journals. We invest these royalties back into the association, which benefits our members. This allows you, as a member, to work on your international outreach while strengthening the national chemical community.

Trade journals

  1. Chemistry Europe
  2. Royal Society of Chemistry
View the list of trade journals

STRENGTHEN

Encouraging international exchange with travel grants

We encourage international exchange and professional development among young chemists. By offering travel grants, we want to give students and young professionals the opportunity to gain international experience, expand their network, and acquire new knowledge and insights during internships or conferences abroad. In this way, we contribute to their personal growth and to strengthening the chemical community in the Netherlands.

View all travel grants

STRENGTHEN

Encouraging personal leadership among young board members

We already actively collaborate with the boards of study associations at universities and universities of applied sciences in the areas of brand awareness and sponsorship. We will deepen this collaboration by investing in the personal leadership of these ‘board members of the future’. We will do this by introducing them to the DISC model, for example. This practical tool provides insight into your own communication style and that of others. In this way, we help board members to work together more effectively, communicate better, and strengthen their personal leadership style.

INNOVATE

Innovation is the engine of progress in chemistry. By stimulating new ideas, techniques, and collaborations, we ensure that chemists continue to respond to the changing needs of society. In this way, chemistry remains relevant, future-proof, and of lasting value to people and the environment.

CONNECTING & STRENGTHENING & INNOVATING

NEXTGEN program

We live in a time when chemistry plays a crucial role in societal transitions, but at the same time, trust in science is declining and is even viewed with suspicion. This has led to a growing need for chemists who not only have professional expertise, but are also able to take the lead in collaboration, communication, and innovation. That is why we have developed the NEXTGEN program. This is a strategic and future-oriented program that supports young chemists in their professional and personal growth and is therefore in line with the KNCV's future strategy: Connect, Strengthen, and Innovate.

Focus on leadership development
Central to the NEXTGEN program is the development of leadership—in the broadest sense of the word. The program focuses on different stages in the careers of young chemists, from bachelor's students to postdocs and young group leaders, and pays specific attention to integrating and connecting international chemists in the Netherlands.

Read more