WUR was affected by a variety of increased expenses in 2023 due to, among others, increased salaries, inflation and energy costs. This impacts the decisions we make for 2024 and our 2024 budgets. Wageningen University's budget [ADD LINK] shows a negative result, which absorbs the effects of increased costs which are not entirely covered by our financiers. Our financial reserves are used for this purpose. The same applied to the Wageningen Research budget: a negative result which is cushioned by the reserves.
Long-term perspectives show developments in the domain of our financiers that will almost certainly affect the future funding of our research and education. The outcome of the November 22 election and subsequent negotiations to reach a coalition are examples of such developments, as is the political decision regarding the law' Balanced Internationalisation'.
Rens Buchwaldt: 'We expect to see a continuing demand for activities and topics we can offer society: education, research and creating impact within WUR's domain. However, there is also an increased societal and political uncertainty, while priorities in public funding are under debate. Moreover, businesses are hesitant to invest in research in view of economic uncertainty and lack of clarity on public co-funding.'
Healthy financial position
'At this time, WUR's financial position is a healthy one. To ensure we retain the means to achieve our ambitions in the future, we must exercise extra diligence in our financial choices in the coming period. We will continue to focus on "what matters most" and prioritise our contribution to the critical transitions. Fortunately, the financial reserves of both WU and WR offer us leeway to address the current developments as they unfold.'
