ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks is a The Hague-based consultancy that advises governments, universities, and companies on science policy, research impact, and innovation strategy, delivering bespoke advisory, training programs, and international conferences built on its proprietary Impact-ranking and Technopolicy methodologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersThe Hague, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ScienceWorks does
ScienceWorks is a private consultancy headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, that operates at the intersection of science policy, research impact assessment, and innovation management. The firm advises local and national governments, universities, and companies on how to strengthen the connections between scientific research and broader societal outcomes, covering research and innovation strategy, science communication, regional development, and policy advisory work. Its positioning rests on a small core team (11–50 employees) led by founder Frank Zwetsloot, supplemented by senior colleagues such as Anika Duut van Goor and Jack Spaapen, plus an international advisory board that extends its reach across Europe and beyond.
The company's service portfolio is built around proprietary methodologies including the "Impact-ranking" framework — which evaluates broader societal contributions of research beyond standard bibliometric outputs — and the "Technopolicy" model linking science, technology, and policy. ScienceWorks generates revenue through three primary channels: bespoke consultancy engagements for institutional clients, structured training programs priced at approximately €1,450–€1,650 per participant, and organized conferences and seminars at roughly €295 per attendee. It has also been a notable convener in the field, having initiated the ASTP network (1999), co-founded AESIS (2015, now operating as an independent entity), and founded STEPPS (2021, transferred to INGSA in 2024).
Geographically, ScienceWorks is anchored in the Netherlands but serves an international client base, with conference and training offerings drawing participants from across Europe. The firm has positioned itself as an educator and facilitator on emerging policy-relevant topics including responsible AI use, algorithms, and Big Data applications for government, though it does not develop AI technology products or platforms itself. Its commercial model is service-led, with no app, API, or software product layer disclosed, and there is no public record of external funding rounds or M&A activity.
ScienceWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ScienceWorks
- Legal name
- ScienceWorks
- Website
- https://scienceworks.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ScienceWorks is a The Hague-based consultancy that advises governments, universities, and companies on science policy, research impact, and innovation strategy, delivering bespoke advisory, training programs, and international conferences built on its proprietary Impact-ranking and Technopolicy methodologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ScienceWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Research Impact Consulting
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)
Keywords
Where ScienceWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- The Hague
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ScienceWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consultancy services: Advisory work supporting knowledge institutes and societal bodies to increase efficacy in implementing science into practice
- Training and seminars: High-level training programs and in-house modules on data-driven governance, policy evaluation, and algorithms for government clients
- Event organization: Conferences and congresses on societal impact of science, including the annual Impact of Science congress
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard congress/conference participation |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Training program (Leergang Beleidsonderzoek) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Data and algorithms training course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
ScienceWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ScienceWorks is a research and advisory consultancy that helps governments, universities, and companies analyze and develop collaborations between science and society. It sells advisory services, project-based consultancy, in-house training modules on data-driven governance and policy evaluation, and open-enrollment seminars, courses, and conferences focused on the societal impact of science. Its work is grounded in proprietary frameworks — notably the Impact-ranking methodology and the Technopolicy-model — used to measure knowledge transfer and benchmark regional innovation systems.
Product overview
ScienceWorks is a consultancy/advisory firm (not a software platform) offering a portfolio of services centered on connecting science and society. Its core offering is advisory services on optimizing and evaluating the societal impact of science, complemented by In-house Modules (customized training programs) on data-driven government work and policy evaluation. The portfolio also includes three named networks founded by ScienceWorks — AESIS (a 3000+ member global network on societal impact of science, independent since 2021), STEPPS (a global network for evidence-based policymaking, transferred to INGSA in 2024), and ASTP (the leading European knowledge transfer professional organization founded in 1999) — plus open enrollment seminars, courses, and conferences covering topics such as algorithms and AI in government, policy evaluation, and impact of science. There is no unified software platform; the offering is a service-led portfolio of advisory, training, and professional networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ScienceWorks Advisory and Consultancy Services
Quantifiable outcome
- AESIS network grew from 200 to 2000 members in 5 years
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ScienceWorks
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ScienceWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
ScienceWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- INGSA (International Network for Government Science Advice)coreSTEPPS network ownership was transferred to INGSA in 2024, establishing a formal partnership for evidence-based policymaking globally.
- STEPPS (Strengthening and Transferring Evidence for Policy and Politics Society)coreFounded in 2021 as a global network to stimulate interactions between research and policymakers. Since 2024, ownership transferred to INGSA (International Network for Government Science Advice).
- AESIS NetworkcoreScienceWorks generated the global AESIS network (Network for Advancing and Evaluating the Societal Impact of Science) in 2015, growing to 3000+ members. Although AESIS became independent in 2021, ScienceWorks still advises AESIS and cooperates on developing new activities and consultancy services.
- ASTP (Association of Science & Technology Professionals)coreScienceWorks founded ASTP, the leading European professional organization for knowledge transfer, in 1999. ASTP represents the premier professional body in this field across Europe.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ScienceWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- APCO Worldwide: Global public affairs and policy advisory firm that increasingly supports science-and-society positioning, communications, and stakeholder engagement — adjacent to ScienceWorks' advisory work.
Direct peers
- ECORYS: Rotterdam-based research and consulting firm serving public-sector clients across Europe on policy evaluation, innovation, and socio-economic research — strong overlap with ScienceWorks' government and university audiences.
- RAND Europe: European arm of RAND that conducts objective research and analysis on science, technology, and innovation policy for governments and foundations — directly comparable scope and client base.
- Fraunhofer ISI: German applied research institute focused on innovation systems, science policy, and societal impact of research; produces influential forecasting and evaluation studies for European funders.
- Technopolis Group: Amsterdam-headquartered consultancy (now part of Ayming) that advises governments and research funders on R&D policy, innovation systems, and impact evaluation — nearly identical service scope to ScienceWorks.
Broad incumbents
- Boston Consulting Group (Public Sector): Global strategy house with a public-sector practice serving research-intensive institutions and government agencies on innovation strategy and impact.
- McKinsey & Company (Public Sector Practice): Global management consultancy with a dedicated public-sector and science-innovation arm advising governments and universities on strategy, organization, and impact of research.
- Ayming: Global consulting group that acquired Technopolis Group, operating a much broader portfolio of innovation, R&D tax credit, and performance advisory services — incumbent variant of ScienceWorks' core work.
Emerging players
- Nesta: UK innovation foundation that blends research, experimentation, and applied advisory on science/tech impact — operates as an emitter of frameworks and partnerships rather than pure consulting, similar to ScienceWorks' network-building model.
- IDEA Pharma: Strategy consultancy blending science impact, health economics, and commercialization research — partial overlap with ScienceWorks' life-sciences impact work and university engagement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ScienceWorks social profiles
Digital presenceScienceWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ScienceWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ScienceWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ScienceWorks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ScienceWorks
What does ScienceWorks do?
ScienceWorks is a research and advisory consultancy that helps governments, universities, and companies analyze and develop collaborations between science and society. It sells advisory services, project-based consultancy, in-house training modules on data-driven governance and policy evaluation, and open-enrollment seminars, courses, and conferences focused on the societal impact of science. Its work is grounded in proprietary frameworks — notably the Impact-ranking methodology and the Technopolicy-model — used to measure knowledge transfer and benchmark regional innovation systems.
Is ScienceWorks a public or private company?
ScienceWorks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ScienceWorks founded?
ScienceWorks was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ScienceWorks based?
ScienceWorks is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does ScienceWorks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consultancy services are the primary driver. The others are training and seminars and event organization.
Who are ScienceWorks's main competitors?
APCO Worldwide is listed as an others. Direct peers are ECORYS, RAND Europe, Fraunhofer ISI and Technopolis Group. Broad incumbents are Boston Consulting Group (Public Sector), McKinsey & Company (Public Sector Practice) and Ayming. Emerging players are Nesta and IDEA Pharma.
Does ScienceWorks have an API?
No public API is recorded for ScienceWorks.
What industry is ScienceWorks in?
ScienceWorks's product category is Research Impact Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAAAK, Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy). Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 8742.