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Become a member

More than 100 institutions are now members of SURF cooperative. These include all funded Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences, most universities of applied sciences and intermediate vocational education institutions and various research institutes including NWO and KNAW institutes.

Conditions for participation

An organisation wishing to become a member of SURF must meet the following conditions:

  1. The institution's core activity is education and/or research, or makes a substantial contribution to this*.
  2. The organisation or institution is a contracting authority within the meaning of the Public Procurement Act 2012 (or the legislation and regulations that replace it).

* For condition 1, SURF applies the criterion that an institution provides 50% education or carries out research.

This does not mean that every organisation that meets the conditions is automatically accepted. The board decides, with the approval of the members' council, whether an institution can join and how it will be represented (in connection with the voting proportions in the members' council).

Decision-making via the Member Council

SURF is of and for the members. When an organisation becomes a member of SURF, it participates in decision-making. The organisation is assigned to one of the sections of the Members' Council, which takes decisions on behalf of the members. Thus, the voice of all members is heard.

Get in touch

Is your institution considering joining SURF? If so, please contact us at rmi@surf.nl.

Membership & contribution

What does the SURF Membership Declaration entail?

Every institution admitted as a member signs a SURF Membership Declaration. This sets out the arrangements for collaboration within the cooperative and for determining SURF's portfolio of services.

Should a member no longer satisfy the conditions for membership, SURF expects to be informed within one month.

Who signs for membership of SURF on behalf of the institution?

One (if independently authorised) or more (if jointly authorised) director(s) of the institution.

Who can cancel membership?

A member may terminate membership with immediate effect, but remains liable to pay the membership fee for the year in which termination takes place. On termination of membership, the purchase obligations that existed at that time or would irrevocably arise on the basis of the service agreement(s) remain in force.

SURF may only terminate membership if a member no longer satisfies the conditions or if the continuation of membership can no longer reasonably be required of SURF. Termination requires a board resolution with the approval of the members' council.

How much is the annual membership fee?

The membership fee varies per department and within it per member. For educational institutions, the number of students plays a role. For other institutions, the size in FTEs and the government contribution play a role. There is no single formula for all members.

What is the contribution paid to SURF used for?

The membership contribution is used for the operation of the cooperative and partly for the innovation programmes from SURF's 2022-2027 strategy.

What are the membership conditions?