News item | 01-10-2025 | 16:30
Due to geopolitical tensions, different countries use economic resources more often as a power instrument. Foreign governments try to gain access to Dutch technologies through espionage, knowledge theft or unwanted investments in companies. Our most innovative companies are increasingly targeted by this. This not only threatens the competitive position of the Netherlands, but also our national security. That is why Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs) today launches the ‘Protecting what makes you strong’ campaign.
After the NATO summit in June 2025 in The Hague, agreements were made about necessary, solid investments in our safety and independence. That is why the government is taking extra measures to make entrepreneurs resilient. The campaign that starts today must make entrepreneurs more aware of economic security risks.
Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs): “Anyone who gets our technology in their hands also increases influence and power. We cannot afford that Dutch knowledge leaks away and is actively deployed against us. Not for our jobs and income and certainly not for our safety. That is why it is very important that entrepreneurs work on their economic safety. This campaign helps them to protect their knowledge and technology.“
Protect what makes you strong
The campaign is aimed at knowledge -intensive companies, often with valuable knowledge and information. Such as unique technology, smart processes, personnel, customer data or strategic insights. The campaign ‘Protecting what makes you strong’ consists of:
- The EV-step plan: helps companies to map what their most important technology, knowledge, processes and data are and how they can protect them.
- The EV-scan: an in-depth analysis that quickly insights entrepreneurs with which measures they can strengthen their business most.
- MAKEJEGRIJKWERBERBERBERBERBOET: a central website with practical tools, guidelines and reliable information.
- Entrepreneurial counter Economic safety: in addition to the ministry, now also physical support points for entrepreneurs for questions and practical advice. The first 2 advice points are at Brainport Eindhoven and TU Delft Campus.
Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs) launched the campaign today during his visit to knowledge -intensive startups in Delft. The minister visited Lobster Robotics, which develops autonomous underwater drones for defense, among other things, to map the seabed in detail, and CIWI, which makes innovative technology for water treatment.
Keep taking steps
The urgency for companies to become resilient against threats in the field of economic safety is increasing in the coming years. An economic safe Netherlands is indispensable for maintaining our prosperity, future growth and national security. The government will therefore continue to take steps with concrete support for entrepreneurs, expanding laws and regulations and by intensifying international cooperation. In this way we strengthen the resilience of our companies and our country.
Want to know more? Go to MAKJEPRIJKWERBERBERBERBOEK.NL.