The importance of Brain, Behaviour and Cognition research in changing times and landscapes: Challenges, opportunities and future prospects

Research in the field of brain, cognition and behaviour (BCB) is highly relevant for education, safety, healthcare, and policy making. For this white paper, a large group of researchers in the Netherlands united to highlight the paramount importance of fundamental BCB research for society and to chart the essential next steps for the BCB field, including concrete recommendations for governments, funders, universities/academic institutions, and individual scientists. This agenda includes the necessary actions to maintain and bolster the virtuous circle of fueling innovation through fundamental BCB research to address the current and future societal challenges. To this end, we outline highlights of BCB research: its societal impact on the fields of healthcare, education and safety, and its fundamental impact on scientific knowledge. We characterize fundamental science as a crucial driver of innovation and impact.  We reflect on the important challenges that the field faces in the Netherlands and in Europe: reduced societal and political trust in science, misinformation about brain function, budget cuts, threats to experimental research with animals, and limits to internationalization. We stress that BCB science is inherently multidisciplinary and call for a research agenda and funding schemes that transcend traditional boundaries, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, internationalization, team science, and open science practices. The Dutch BCB research agenda is broadly relevant, and can inspire BCB research and interdisciplinary initiatives across Europe and globally. This agenda lays a path toward a resilient, responsive, and socially embedded BCB research ecosystem—one that is equipped to conquer scientific frontiers while fulfilling societal needs.