The Action Agenda for the National Technology Strategy (NTS) was presented at the NEMO Science Museum on Monday, 26 January. Across ten Action Agendas, the NTS ambitions for 2035 have been translated by more than 1,000 participating organisations into a coherent portfolio of 53 large-scale, multi-annual public–private innovation programmes, representing a total planned investment of more than €14 billion.
The ten Action Agendas offer a detailed overview of the technological breakthroughs, applications and ecosystems required to strengthen the Netherlands’ strategic position and earning capacity, and to reinforce the position of Dutch start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and large enterprises. At the same time, they are a key instrument for addressing the major societal challenges facing the country.
Process Technology Action Agenda
ISPT, the VNCI and several member companies were closely involved in the development of the Process Technology Action Agenda, represented on the day by Marco Waas (Nobian), Jasper van Zon (Nyrstar), Lisanne Blom (VNCI) and Irene ten Dam (ISPT). This key enabling technology focuses on strengthening Dutch earning capacity, strategic relevance, and achieving climate and environmental goals through innovation in process technology. The agenda supports the competitive position of industry, the creation of new value chains, and associated employment.
Circular raw materials roundabout
Within the Action Agenda, two innovation programmes have been outlined: the Sustainable Carbon Hub North‑West Europe and Critical Raw Materials. “Process technology plays a central role in the circular economy of the future. The Netherlands has the knowledge, infrastructure and industrial base to take a leading position,” says Lisanne Blom. “This requires transforming existing and building new value chains for sustainable carbon and critical raw materials, enabling industries to produce with renewable and recycled feedstocks.” According to Irene ten Dam, the agenda fits seamlessly with the recent analysis and recommendations presented by Peter Wennink. Marco Waas expects that these recommendations and action agendas will serve as the compass for the transition towards a sustainable and resilient economy in the next ten to fifteen years.
Vincent Karremans, Minister of Economic Affairs:
“As a relatively small country, we must make clear choices and build on our strengths; that is why it is vital that investors commit on a sustained basis to the innovation programmes set out in these Action Agendas. Together, we can successfully bring the technologies of the National Technology Strategy to market, strengthen our earning capacity and reinforce the strategic autonomy of the Netherlands and Europe.”
Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, said in a video message:
“Europe’s future competitiveness will be built by shared ambition, cooperation and European scale. By its National Technology Strategy and strong participation in Horizon Europe, the Netherlands is in fact showing the way.”
Peter Stolk, Chair of the Key Enabling Technologies Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (KIA ST):
“The Action Agendas combine established initiatives that we will now scale further with new innovation pathways that will strengthen the Netherlands’ international strategic position. At the same time, they sharpen priorities and support well-founded choices.”
Starting point for further joint innovation
The Action Agendas are a starting point for further joint innovation. In the coming years, efforts and collaboration on the priority key enabling technologies will be further linked to, and aligned with, other recent reports and developments, including the Wennink Rapport, the Regional Strengthening Plan for the National Technology Strategy Regional Strengthening Pland for the National Technology Strategy (RV-NTS) of the Regional Development Agencies, the National Growth Fund programmes and relevant European initiatives.