The MCG programme − a joint effort of NWO and NGI − was started in 2002 to formulate and develop the social component of the genomics-research.
The MCG programme aimed to stimulate research on the societal impact of genomics from the standpoint of social science, economy, law and ethics. Key topics focused on the mutual interaction between genomics on the one hand and, on the other hand, the foundations and organization of our society, the self-image of individuals and how we deal with animals, nature and the environment.
At the conference “Reflection & Direction. The legacy of the MCG programme” in March 2008, the MCG programme was officially closed. Looking back, it is clear that the programme has been a highly successful undertaking. It has managed to put the need for societal research into genomics and its applications on the agenda of the genomics community, social scientists, ethicists, economists and philosophers. It has enabled a broad array of research projects that have probed into completely new fields, asked innovative questions and yielded a substantial body of knowledge.
Furthermore, the MCG programme has also been pivotal in building a new community of researchers working on genomics in all its aspects. Through funding a large number of research - mostly Ph.D. and postdoc - projects at universities and institutes throughout the Netherlands, the MCG programme has created a new network of researchers from different disciplines. It has brought together people with completely different backgrounds to exchange views and ideas. The resulting research community, supported by the generated body of knowledge, has provided a strong basis for developing international activities, especially within the EU where the Netherlands has a leading position in this field.
Total budget: 9,369 M€