News item | 6/30/2023 | 13:15
Participate and benefit from broad prosperity
Broad prosperity is central to the future economy of the Netherlands. The cabinet has determined this today on the proposal of Minister Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate. Our future economy is innovative and sustainable and is characterized by the strong position of the Netherlands in a resilient Europe. The government wants people to be able to participate sufficiently and benefit from economic growth, writes Minister Adriaansens in Perspective on the Dutch economy.
The Netherlands has an attractive business climate, excellent knowledge institutions and well-trained employees. But the Netherlands is reaching its limits. Limits to energy, raw materials, water, labour, nature and space. In addition, competitive economies are not standing still.
Minister Adriaansens: “That is why we have to adjust our course. This means that we will focus more on the growth sectors of the future: deep tech, the green manufacturing industry, the circular economy and high-quality digital services, such as artificial intelligence and digital platforms. We have to do that now, to prevent international competition from outsmarting us and to ensure that we can also live in a nice country in the future.”
Perspective gives direction
The four characteristics of the Dutch economy – innovative, sustainable, strong and broad prosperity for society – guide the strategy and investments of companies and government. They form a model with which companies and government can make better choices. Companies will flourish in the Netherlands if they create maximum economic, social, ecological and social value. The government directs development towards this future economy with a combination of general and targeted policy, such as pricing, standards and subsidies.
General government policy
The government is strengthening the business climate for all entrepreneurs. The government also ensures that the basis is in order that ensures that innovations arise and grow in the Netherlands. This means that the government is committed to good education, knowledge policy, a secure digital infrastructure and (financial) support for innovative activities. In addition, the government invests in physical and digital infrastructure and ensures that companies and citizens can become more sustainable. This means, among other things, smooth licensing, sufficiently trained personnel and investments in energy infrastructure for hydrogen, heat and the storage of CO2.
Targeted government policy
In addition to this general policy, the government is pursuing targeted policy to ensure that technologies originate and grow in the Netherlands, writes Minister Adriaansens. The government is doing this, among other things, through the National Growth Fund and the tailor-made approach for major CO2 emitters in industry. The government is also working on the National Technology Strategy with the aim of choosing 5 to 10 spearheads from a list of 44 individual key technologies. Key technologies are technologies in which the Netherlands excels scientifically and in which scientific and economic growth is expected in the coming years. As a small country, the Netherlands cannot be good at everything. By focusing on a number of key technologies and by using public and private money precisely there, the government wants to increase the success rate of these technologies and thus increase the competitiveness of our economy.