Tim van der Hagen
Rector magnificus TU Delft
Menno Antal
Founder of the TU Delft Excellence Fund
Text Dayinta Perrier
© Photos Guus Schoonewille
How can TU Delft attract highly talented scientists from around the world? This concern of Rector Magnificus Tim van der Hagen was the foundation the Excellence Fund is built on. With a group of five other alumni, Menno Antal founded this fund five years ago. Meanwhile, eight top scientists have come to Delft with their support.
At a dinner of the Delft University Fund, of which Van der Hagen and Antal are both board members, Van der Hagen was asked what kept him awake at night. He expressed his concern regarding being able to attract highly talented candidates. “Internationally, competition is enormous,” says Van der Hagen. “Universities compete in different areas, such as salary, research facilities, a good research team, ambitious students, strong partners… In terms of salary, Dutch universities have no upward flexibility; we are bound by the collective labour agreement. Our opportunities lie in making a difference in those other areas.” This inspired Antal to gather together alumni and to help TU Delft. “As an alumnus, I find it important that TU Delft remains at the top,” says Antal. “This is important for the Netherlands. Top scientists, specifically, immediately ensure that a university moves up in the world rankings.” That night, the Excellence Fund was born. This fund allows TU Delft to offer highly talented scientists a starting budget.
‘Our community of alumni is becoming more important for TU Delft’
‘As an alumnus, I find it important that TU Delft remains at the top’
Donating for knowledge
Antal set up the fund together with a development board. “We demonstrate to alumni why this fund is important for the level at which TU Delft operates and is appreciated, and why this requires scientific talents,” says Antal. “But we also reconnect alumni with the university. TU Delft is an inspiring place teeming with students, start-ups and top scientists. For alumni, it’s incredibly nice to feel connected to this again.” Antal also considers it important for donating money to a university to become a normal thing. “We donate money to arts and culture, but not to knowledge. While university is the place we owe the rest of our lives to. It should be quite normal for us to give something back.” In addition, according to both Van der Hagen and Antal, philanthropic donations can safeguard the independence of research. “Research funding is very competitive, with both government, EU and corporate funding involving a lot of rules and conditions,” says Van der Hagen. “Donations from alumni give TU Delft and scientists the crucial opportunity to experiment and research a little more freely.”
Community
The fund has now been in existence five years. Both men look back on this period as a successful one. “Eight top scientists have now been recruited with support from the Excellence Fund,” says Van der Hagen. “We can ensure these highly talented scientists get off to a flying start with funding for lab infrastructure and by attracting a young research group. Scientists of this calibre ‘recoup’, and even multiply, that amount within a few years. The Excellence Fund really works as a driving force.” And the involvement of the alumni also feels like a success. “We have managed to create a community of alumni who feel so connected that they want to contribute,” says Antal. “During alumni meetings where top scientists give lectures, it is wonderful to see everyone hanging onto their every word. The importance of the university is palpable then. It is the place where the problems of the future are solved. Contributing to the fund allows alumni to be part of this.” In the coming years, the two intend to continue the Excellence Fund with Antal in the lead. “Alumni play a crucial role when it comes to strengthening the TU Delft community,” says Van der Hagen. “TU Delft’s community of alumni is becoming more important to it by the day. I am not uncertain about the future, but a less favourable wind is blowing from The Hague as far as education and science are concerned. Together with more than 110 thousand alumni, we can make a real impact and keep TU Delft among the world’s top universities.”
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