International collaboration is vital for RIVM. It enables us to keep abreast of the latest global research and innovative developments. It enhances and strengthens our knowledge base and, as a result, improves the quality of our research and policy advice. RIVM shares knowledge and expertise abroad. We participate in a wide range of international research and innovation projects to help solve some of the biggest societal challenges, for instance, climate change.

For more than 100 years, RIVM has been promoting public health and safeguarding a healthy and safe environment. We have a central role in infectious disease control, national prevention and population screening programmes and monitoring our population’s health and the state of our environment. We support citizens, professionals and national and local authorities in the challenge of keeping ourselves and our environment healthy, safe and sustainable. Our ambition is to be a trusted advisor using independent research as the basis for our advisory work. Below we present some of the global challenges we work on and elaborate on our tasks and international activities.