Societal issues guide our work and are reflected in our commissioned projects. Our work is inspired in no small part by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

We focus on major trends that affect health, safety and the living environment, such as climate change, globalisation, decentralisation, and on transitions in demographics, health care, energy, agriculture, urbanisation and the circular economy. 

We are community-oriented, consulting with private individuals and partners in society and sharing our scientific knowledge and insights. We work with other knowledge institutes, citizens and other stakeholders, including private parties. We are transparent and communicate clearly.

RIVM is prepared for the challenges asked today and tomorrow. The trends that emerge in society, scientific research and technological progress define and guide our work. We identify these trends, respond accordingly and put them on the agenda, constantly developing our knowledge and skills for that purpose.

• We enhance information technology, biotech, data science and complex systems science.
• We develop and use interactive methods to engage society in our work, including dialogue sessions, co-creation and citizen science.
• Our work is increasingly interdisciplinary.
   

Factors that affect health and the human environment are not limited by national borders and play out on various geographical scales.  For that reason, we will use a multi-layered approach in our work, developing knowledge and opportunities to take action in partnership with and on behalf of local, regional, national and international commissioning clients and target groups. 
    
Government tasks are increasingly shifting towards decentralised coordination. Responding to regional and local trends, RIVM will focus particular attention over the years ahead on the knowledge needed by local and regional government authorities.

National and international cooperation enhances our expertise and reinforces our authoritative position, contributing to the quality of our work.

 In various forums, we will access, contribute and develop knowledge that supports our advisory role.

RIVM is a trusted advisor. For that reason, our employees value expertise, professionalism, integrity and responsibility. 

Complex issues in society demand collaborative approaches. We will encourage and promote collaboration between experts from different fields of scientific research. That will require agility within the RIVM organisation and team spirit and flexibility from our employees. We will tap into and encourage diversity in our workforce.

We will ensure that the resources made available to us are used effectively. These plans require servant leadership.

The new RIVM building and accommodations foster cooperation and provide an inviting setting where the public, professionals and government authorities can meet and exchange information.

In that setting, our people will enjoy their work, achieve optimal results, and be proud to work at RIVM.