title: On the added value of forensic science and grand innovation challenges for the forensic community.
abstract: In this paper the insights and results are presented of a long term and ongoing improvement effort within the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) to establish a valuable innovation programme. From the overall perspective of the role and use of forensic science in the criminal justice system, the concepts of Forensic Information Value Added (FIVA) and Forensic Information Value Efficiency (FIVE) are introduced. From these concepts the key factors determining the added value of forensic investigations are discussed; Evidential Value, Relevance, Quality, Speed and Cost. By unravelling the added value of forensic science and combining this with the future needs and scientific and technological developments, six forensic grand challenges are introduced: i) Molecular Photo-fitting; ii) chemical imaging, profiling and age estimation of finger marks; iii) Advancing Forensic Medicine; iv) Objective Forensic Evaluation; v) the Digital Forensic Service Centre and vi) Real time In-Situ Chemical Identification. Finally, models for forensic innovation are presented that could lead to major international breakthroughs on all these six themes within a five year time span. This could cause a step change in the added value of forensic science and would make forensic investigative methods even more valuable than they already are today.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497 GB, P.O. Box 24044, 2490 AA The Hague, The Netherlands; Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Co van Ledden Hulsebosch Centrum, Amsterdam Center for Forensic Science and Medicine, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.van.asten@nfi.minvenj.nl.
authors.forename: Arian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van Asten
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011361:Professional Competence; D011786:Quality Control; D058996:Quality Improvement
keywords: Delivery time reduction; Forensic Information Value Added; Forensic Information Value Efficiency; Forensic relevance; Grand challenges; Innovation