The Netherlands: European hotspot for knowledge transfer

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Knowledge institutions come up with a new plan to increase impact

The Netherlands must become the European hotspot for knowledge transfer and innovation. This is the ambition of the Dutch universities, university medical centers and TNO. Together, the knowledge institutions are launching a plan (in Dutch) to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem. The goal: by 2030 a knowledge transfer system that is among the best in the world.

VSNU (now UNL) chairman Pieter Duisenberg: 'Society, the business community, students and scientists increasingly want to put scientific knowledge into practice. The current ecosystem for this valorisation is too small to meet that demand. That is why we are taking the next step together so that investments in knowledge and innovation yield even more for the Netherlands.'

Knowledge and innovation as an answer to societal challenges

The societal challenges facing the Netherlands, Europe and the world cannot be solved without scientific knowledge and innovation. A strong national innovation ecosystem accelerates the implementation of the solutions offered by science. Every euro that the government invests in knowledge and innovation yields four euros. That does not happen automatically. A strong innovation ecosystem in which knowledge institutions and the business community work together intensively ensures that scientific knowledge can actually and quickly be used for our future.

Towards a innovation ecosystem with a solid foundation

With the right choices, the Netherlands can not only rank among the European top in the second half of the decade, but even become the innovation hotspot of Europe. Margriet Schneider, chairman of the NFU: 'In 2030, the Netherlands must have a national innovation ecosystem that can compete with the best in the world. Because the Netherlands is a relatively small country with a central location, world-class science and excellent infrastructure, we have enormous potential. We want to capitalize on that potential.' The Dutch knowledge institutions propose three goals to become the valorisation hotspot of Europe by 2030.

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