On the 19^th of March 2025, over 200 people interested in strengthening evidence-informed policymaking came together in Brussels. In her keynote address, Loes Mulder, the Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, argued that there is also a need to strengthen our competence to listen.

At this urgent time, where substantiated facts are undermined by alternative facts, science for policy should not only be an activity for “highly educated” people, but something for the whole of society. Loes Mulder argues that there is a need to co-create our policies with the people and the professionals that they are for. To reach that goal, we need to strengthen our competence to listen.

Her speech, which can be found below, also addresses the necessity of a long-term approach in policymaking and how science advice can support this goal, as well as it highlights the experiences that her Dutch ministry has with a ‘Science for policy’ team, working on topics such options for science fellowships and ways to strengthen the Dutch knowledge infrastructure.