# Dutch Institute for Scientific Information

> research institute in the Netherlands

**Wikidata**: [Q2618460](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2618460)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dutch-institute-for-scientific-information

## Summary
The Dutch Institute for Scientific Information (NIWI) was a research institute located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that operated from September 1, 1997, until its dissolution on July 1, 2005. As an organization classified as a research institute, its primary purpose was to conduct research, distinct from universities or commercial entities. It was formally identified by multiple international authority systems, including GRID, ROR, and the Library of Congress.

## Key Facts
- **Short Name:** NIWI
- **Instance of:** Research Institute
- **Location:** Amsterdam, Netherlands
- **Inception Date:** September 1, 1997
- **Dissolution Date:** July 1, 2005
- **Website:** http://cf.hum.uva.nl/nhl/bizon/niwi.htm
- **ISNI:** 0000000120374614
- **ROR ID:** 020hsr785
- **GRID ID:** grid.450166.0
- **VIAF ID:** 150970742
- **Ringgold ID:** 1189
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1225d_fj
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no98039958
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/3c34ab22-a227-46da-88f1-8bc052fee009
- **Wikipedia Languages:** Dutch (nl)
- **Wikidata Description:** research institute in the Netherlands

## FAQs
**Q: What was the Dutch Institute for Scientific Information?**
A: The Dutch Institute for Scientific Information (NIWI) was a research institute based in Amsterdam. It was established to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, functioning as a distinct operational entity separate from universities or commercial research bodies.

**Q: When did the institute operate?**
A: The institute was established on September 1, 1997, and ceased operations on July 1, 2005.

**Q: Where was the institute located?**
A: The Dutch Institute for Scientific Information was located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

**Q: What distinguishes a research institute like NIWI from other organizations?**
A: As a research institute, NIWI was dedicated exclusively to research activities, unlike universities that balance teaching and research or companies that pursue research for commercial ends. It was an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation, distinct from membership-based scientific societies or policy-focused think tanks.

## Why It Matters
The Dutch Institute for Scientific Information represents a specific type of knowledge-producing institution that existed within the Dutch research landscape in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its existence as a standalone research institute demonstrates the organizational diversity of scientific infrastructure, where entities can be created and dissolved based on shifting research priorities and funding structures. The institute's formal recognition across multiple international authority systems (such as ROR, GRID, and the Library of Congress) highlights the importance of persistent identifiers in the scholarly ecosystem, ensuring that entities remain traceable and referenceable even after they cease operations. This traceability is vital for historical research accuracy, citation tracking, and understanding the evolution of research networks over time.

## Notable For
- Operating as a dedicated research institute in the Netherlands for nearly eight years.
- Being formally classified and identified by a wide array of global authority and identifier systems, including ROR, GRID, VIAF, ISNI, and the Library of Congress.
- Having a specific, time-limited operational period with a defined inception and dissolution date.

## Body

### Organizational Identity and Status
The Dutch Institute for Scientific Information, abbreviated as NIWI, was formally classified as a **research institute**. This classification denotes an organization whose primary and often sole purpose is to conduct research, differentiating it from universities, which combine research with teaching, and corporate entities, which conduct research for commercial applications. According to its Wikidata description, it was a "research institute in the Netherlands." Its status as an operational entity is confirmed by its inclusion in major organizational databases and its assignment of persistent identifiers.

### Operational Timeline
The institute had a defined operational lifespan within the Dutch research sector.
- **Inception:** The institute was founded on September 1, 1997.
- **Dissolution:** The institute was dissolved or abolished on July 1, 2005.

### Location
The Dutch Institute for Scientific Information was physically located in **Amsterdam, Netherlands**. This location is consistent with its identity as a Dutch research organization.

### Identification and Authority Control
NIWI is distinguished by its extensive cataloging across multiple international identifier systems, ensuring its persistent recognition in the scholarly record.
*   **Global Research Identifiers:** It was assigned the GRID ID `grid.450166.0` and the Research Organization Registry (ROR) ID `020hsr785`. It also held a Ringgold ID of `1189`.
*   **Library and Bibliographic Authorities:** The institute is listed in the Library of Congress with the authority ID `no98039958` and has a Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) ID of `150970742`.
*   **Other Persistent Identifiers:** It was assigned an ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier) of `0000000120374614`, a Google Knowledge Graph ID of `/g/1225d_fj`, and a Yale LUX ID of `group/3c34ab22-a227-46da-88f1-8bc052fee009`.

### Digital Presence and Archival Records
The institute's digital footprint includes a recorded website URL (`http://cf.hum.uva.nl/nhl/bizon/niwi.htm`), which likely points to an archived page or a sub-domain associated with its historical operations. Its presence is also noted on Wikipedia in the Dutch language (nl), reflecting its relevance primarily within the Dutch context. The existence of a specific sitelink count and references across identifier databases confirms that while the organization is dissolved, it remains a recognized entity within structured knowledge systems.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions