Holland High Tech Holland High Tech

High-tech and manufacturing industry innovation engine for the Netherlands

1 August 2023

In this paper, TNO writes that the Netherlands is facing major social challenges. New knowledge and technology are indispensable for this. The Dutch high-tech and manufacturing industry functions as an important innovation engine in this respect.

Agenda Key Enabling Technologies
Agenda Security
National Growth Fund
News
Photonics
SME innovation
Space
Sustainability
Valorisation & Market creation
Vision 2030

Long term focus

However, the Dutch innovation chain has a number of weaknesses. For example, scientific innovations are insufficiently converted into successful applications and economic and social value creation. With a greater focus on this so-called valorisation, applied research and a revaluation of entrepreneurship, our country can become more attractive for R&D investments. It is also important in the Netherlands to choose more precisely which technologies and key positions we deploy in often global value chains. With this long-term focus, innovation policy can contribute more to a safer, healthier, more sustainable and more prosperous Netherlands.

In brief

  • Focus on strengthening the entire innovation chain, from fundamental research to valorisation and entrepreneurship

  • Making long-term choices for key enabling technologies and key positions (control points) in new value chains

  • SME focus on creating more scale-ups and sectors with lagging productivity growth

  • Accelerating sustainability in industry with a joint system approach by companies, knowledge institutions and government with a focus on innovation and R&D

  • Turning the National Growth Fund into a structural instrument that boosts the creation of new value chains and innovation ecosystems

  • Achieve EU standard to invest 3% of GDP in R&D

  • Let civil and defense investments in R&D reinforce each other

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