Innovation and Innovation Policy in Netherlands
Innovation and Innovation Policy in Netherlands 
Overview of Innovation Policy
The Netherlands is a prosperous, densely populated country with over 16 million inhabitants. An indication of the performance of the Dutch economy is that the Netherlands ranks 8th in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum (2008). Innovation performance is, however, just above EU27 average according to the European Innovation Scoreboard 2008.
The Dutch innovation system faces several challenges that need to be addressed by policy. A first challenge is to increase the levels of output and quality in higher education A more ambitious learning culture and a research climate that fosters excellence are necessary to make the Netherlands a more attractive location for talented students, knowledge workers and innovative companies, also from abroad.
A second challenge is to strengthen the innovative capacity of Dutch (small and medium-sized) companies. The expenditures on R&D in the private sector are relatively low (around 1% of GDP) and the share of innovative companies in the SME sector is also small. Relationships between the public knowledge institutes and the private sector (especially SMEs) could be improved.
A third challenge is to create a more attractive business and investment climate and to create more room for entrepreneurial activities. A reduction of administrative burdens is one of the elements.
These challenges are recognised and addressed in Dutch innovation policy. Since a renewal and streamlining of the innovation policy mix in 2005, there is a “basic package” of generic measures for all entrepreneurs and a “programmatic approach” targeted at key areas of the Dutch economy. The new set of instruments is characterised by more flexibility and customisation; fewer instruments with more coherence; less, more accessible helpdesks; fewer acquisition costs and administrative burden.
The “basic package” includes a package for information and advice (e.g. the innovation vouchers and the innovation performance contracts), a capital market package and a fiscal scheme (WBSO, the largest measure in budgetary weight).
The programmatic approach introduces a bottom-up, interactive, user-driven approach to the development and implementation of innovation programmes. An innovation programme addresses specific bottlenecks in the sectoral ecosystem, and may include a broad range of measures ranging from R&D support to improving the linkages between education and the business sector. Currently, there are eight innovation programmes in Food & Nutrition, High-Tech Automotive Systems, Materials, Chemical industries, Life Sciences & Health, Maritime, Nano-electronics & Embedded Systems, and Water Technologies.
The innovation governance system consists of several levels and multiple actors. Two key governmental actors are the ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) and the ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). EZ is responsible for industry-oriented R&D and innovation policy, and OCW for scientific research and education. In 2008 an interdepartmental “Knowledge & Innovation” programme department (K&I) was set up to coordinate and align policies of all relevant ministries. K&I developed a long-term strategy “Towards an agenda for sustainable growth in productivity”, which should guide future investments in knowledge and innovation. K&I also developed societal innovation agendas for Health, Safety & Security, Water and Energy which are the basis for “societal innovation programmes”, a new element in the Dutch policy mix.
The two main policy delivery organisations are the agency SenterNovem (innovation policy) and the research council NWO (research policy). Advisory bodies include the Advisory Council for S&T Policy AWT, the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences KNAW and the Innovation Platform.
| Annual Country Reports |
 Country report 2009 for Netherlands
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| Country report 2008 for Netherlands
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| Country report 2007 for Netherlands
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| Country Report 2006 for Netherlands
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| Country Report 2005 for Netherlands
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| Country Report Netherlands September 2004
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| Netherlands - Trend Chart Country Report, September 2003
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| Netherlands - Trend Chart Country Report, March 2003
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| Netherlands - Trend Chart Country Report, October 2002
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| Netherlands - Trend Chart Theme-specific Country Report, May 2002
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| Netherlands-Trend Chart Country Report, November 2001
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| Netherlands Trend Chart Country report June 2001
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| Netherlands Trend Chart Country Report Dec 2000
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| Netherlands Trend Chart Country Report June 2000
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| Latest TrendChart Deliverables |
| Procurement networks and innovation: Experiences from the STEPPIN project |
| Intellectual property rights and public procurement |
| Workshop Briefing Netherlands 13_2006 |
| Applicability of gerneal policy measures to services, and why not to develop specific measures |
| Can we measure and compare innovation in services? |
| New Support Measures |
 NL 91 Innovation credit |
| NL 56 Innovation Performance Contracts (IPC) |
| NL 92 TechnoPartner Knowledge Exploitation funding programme (SKE) |
| NL 93 TechnoPartner Seed facility |
| NL 43 TechnoPartner |
Who Is Who
Senior Official(s) for Netherlands
Victor Joosen
Nora Van de Wenden
Correspondents for Netherlands
Jasper Deuten
Search Who's Who
Innovation Performance
Performance in Innovation Scoreboard 2008Find Out More
List of relevant websites
