Dutch industrial policy

  Press release Industry Day February 7, 2017   The next government must invest heavily in the future of Dutch industry with targeted and decisive policy. Dutch industrial companies are among the top in the world, but that position is threatened by a scarcity of technical talent, years of cuts in science and applied research and possible protectionism in important foreign markets. The Dutch sector is issuing this warning this afternoon in The Hague during Industry Day. The industry is of enormous importance to the Dutch economy: directly and indirectly it provides two million jobs, almost half of exports and at least 60 percent of the growth in innovation and productivity. The Dutch industry is the world leader in chip machines and medical equipment, the world's second exporter of food and a leader in chemistry. The Netherlands also has strong regional clusters such as Brainport Eindhoven. The manufacturing sector, often in collaboration with knowledge institutions and the government, plays a leading role when it comes to new solutions for the major social issues we face; whether it concerns further sustainability, food production and safety or digitalization and robotization. These transitions offer great opportunities for Dutch industry and therefore the economy, but the government must tackle them together with the business community, the entrepreneurs emphasize in a manifesto for the new cabinet published today. We also have a backlog to catch up on. For example, the funding tap for scientific research, both fundamental and applied, has been further turned off year after year and companies are crying out for technical talent that is not available. Fortunately, the number of science and technology students is now increasing sharply again, but if funding hardly changes, the technical universities are forced to introduce a numerus fixus. Investment 1 billion In concrete terms, the industry is asking the next cabinet for an additional investment in research and innovation of 1 billion euros per year. At least half is needed to prevent science from declining even further. The other half is intended to find solutions to major social challenges. With well-chosen example projects and support for SMEs, this investment can attract double the amount of private investment, according to the industry. The sector also explicitly asks for continuity of policy. This gives entrepreneurs peace and security. After years of floundering, Dutch innovation policy is now in good shape. That success must not be crushed by a desire for change. The next government must build on this and strengthen successful instruments such as the MIT. It is also important that innovation policy focuses on a number of major social themes such as the energy transition and the circular economy. Departments should bring together public-private partners for each issue to find solutions. The government must then make this known launching customer are. About Industry Day The Industry Day is an initiative of FHI, FME, FNLI, Koninklijke Metaalunie, NRK, UNETO-VNI, VNCI, Brainport Eindhoven, VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland. This is the second time that the event, with almost 400 representatives from the business community, knowledge institutions and government, is being held. The aim of the day is to show politicians and government the importance of industry and innovation for earning capacity in the Netherlands. Key message Manifesto of Industry Day