News item | 15-03-2023 | 2:00 PM
According to research, the Netherlands makes excellent use of EU support for science, technology and innovation. For example, entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions benefit from the EU programme Horizon almost two euros back from every euro invested. Due to major challenges such as sustainability and digitalisation, the government wants companies, knowledge institutions and regional governments to excel even more in this area.
Research at the request of Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate) and Robbert Dijkgraaf (Education, Culture and Science) shows that there is still room to better align national and regional research and innovation policy with EU policy. For example, by choosing more specifically, which is also one of the main points in the publication at the end of last year Kabinets vision innovation and impact.
The cabinet has Advisory Board for Science, Technology and Innovation (AWTI) to investigate how the Netherlands can make optimal use of EU support to strengthen national policy for science, technology and innovation. The research was presented this week by AWTI chairman Eppo Bruins and council member Koenraad Debackere to Minister Adriaansens. Before the summer, the cabinet will provide a response to this requested study.
Opportunities in the provinces
According to the AWTI, provinces are increasingly active in stimulating innovation locally, while the EU is trying to take the lead in a number of important societal challenges for the provinces. The AWTI therefore advises the provinces to smartly link their own policy to the EU regulations for research and innovation. For example, by using the regional EU resources that provinces are allowed to spend on innovation in such a way that they reinforce other policies, and by connecting regions with other regions in Europe in order to promote cooperation in research and innovation.
Involving SMEs
It is also important that all parties involved, such as SMEs and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, can make good use of European support. For example, the new Accelerator instrument of the European Innovation Council, which is aimed at SMEs, can involve more Dutch SMEs and thus also facilitate the end of the chain from fundamental research to application and upscaling.