That focus is no coincidence. After all, innovation rarely arises in isolation. It is precisely in ecosystems where companies, knowledge institutions, and governments collaborate that the acceleration needed to bring breakthroughs and innovations to market occurs. It is precisely these innovations—which contribute to our autonomy, the urgent transitions, and the earning capacity of the Netherlands—that now have the highest priority.
From lab to fab: the Dutch bottleneck
The Netherlands ranks among the world's top countries when it comes to science and research. Yet, the translation into economic impact lags behind. The step from idea to large-scale application—from lab to fab—often proves to be too slow and too fragmented.
It is precisely this crucial middle phase that is under pressure. To remain internationally relevant, the Netherlands must invest more strategically in technologies in which it truly excels. The ten Key Enabling Technologies from the National Technology Strategy (NTS) offer a clear framework for this: focus, decisiveness, and collaboration across the entire chain are essential. Strategic Perspective and Practical Examples
Strategic perspective and practical examples
Peter Stolk, Chairman of Holland High Tech and Chairman of Key Technologies, contributed during the breakfast and outlined the broader strategic picture of high-tech in the Netherlands, our position in further developing key technologies, and emphasized the importance of bridging the so-called ‘Valley of Death’.
Peter Stolk:
"The conclusions we must draw to enable the Netherlands to accelerate are seemingly simple: key technologies form the foundation, public-private partnerships are crucial for economic and societal success, and by investing in clusters and pilot plants, we increase the market opportunities for targeted innovation. Now for the implementation! It is very good to exchange targeted views on this with the members of parliament involved. Together, we can ensure that we accelerate innovation in the Netherlands."
Additionally, the presentation by Gus van der Feltz of FSO Instruments served as a demonstration of what happens when everything aligns: how smart innovations from the lab actually lead to business activity and growth. The Innovation Breakfast thus made one thing clear: the key to future earning potential lies not only in knowledge, but in the ability to bring that knowledge to market faster together.
