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FLOW-consortium
DUTCH INDUSTRY AND KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTIONS TAKE LEADING ROLE IN OFFSHORE WIND FARM INNOVATION RWE Offshore Wind, Eneco, TenneT, Ballast Nedam, Van Oord, IHC Merwede, 2-B Energy, XEMC Darwind, ECN and TU Delft are pioneering a large scale innovation programme for the development of wind energy far out at sea. (Far and Large Offshore Wind: FLOW). The plan was presented today to Minister of Economic Affairs Van der Hoeven.
Working smarter gives substantial productivity growth
13.07.2009 | Productivity growth at companies that are doing something about ‘Working Smarter’ is 9 percent higher than at companies that are not. That is the finding of research conducted by EIM on behalf of the Innovation Platform amongst 650 SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) with between 5 and 250 employees. The research also revealed that technological and product innovations are more effective if they are combined with ‘Working Smarter’. The productivity growth at these companies is around 12 percent higher than at companies that only pursue technological innovations. read more
Pilot with top talent from China
15.06.2009 | The Netherlands needs more top (scientific) talent, from within the Netherlands but also from outside our borders. China is a particular growth market for young researchers. That is why the Innovation Platform is keen to start a four year pilot with China in the near future aimed at recruiting top scientific talent and strengthening the collaboration on research. This ‘China pilot’ has been developed under the leadership of Innovation Platform member Robbert Dijkgraaf. read more
Project office
The project office advises the Innovation Platform and supports its day to day activities. It runs projects and monitors the Netherlands’ progress in education, research and other areas related to innovation. In addition, the project office manages the Platform’s communications. If you would like to contact the project office, you will find the information you need on the Contact page. read more
Knowledge Investment Agenda
Knowledge Investment Agenda
The Dutch Innovation Platform has far-reaching ambitions. These can be briefly summarised as follows: to create a highly educated, professional workforce, to enhance and improve the use of the knowledge base, and to expand innovation and entrepreneurship. These ambitions have been translated into the Knowledge Investment Agenda (KIA).
The KIA has been signed by the Dutch Innovation Platform and 25 other parties, with the aim of transforming the Netherlands into a nation of talent within ten years. The KIA includes concrete objectives for 2016. An annual snapshot of the current situation provides a clear picture of our success in achieving the KIA ambitions.
The Netherlands in the World
The primary ambition of the Innovation Platform is to ensure that the Netherlands ranks amongst the top 5 countries with the greatest competitive strength and increase the Netherlands' growth in productivity. The Innovation Platform has published this 'The Netherlands in the world; Connecting global ambitions' report to demonstrate how the Netherlands can achieve its ambition.
The Netherlands possesses the innovative, economic and social strengths required to exhibit an adequate response to the current global trends. However, we will need to have the courage to make interventions in a number of areas, and for this reason the IP has drawn up an agenda for change which specifies a number of fundamental choices.
The IP has specified ten actions in the agenda for change to contribute to this ambition, like attracting 50 internationals to the Netherlands, better international education and strengthening key areas.
Toolbox
Netherlands in the World
The Netherlands stands in the middle of the world: an attitude which has brought us prosperity. We need to continue to adopt this approach if we are to create a powerful future. We need to tackle the challenges with confidence, and seize the opportunities available to the Netherlands. Ambitious targets and daring innovations will need to further improve our international competitive position. We will be able to achieve this in only one way: by working together.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende
Chairman Innovation Platform
The Innovationplatform
The Netherlands is a small country that is big on innovation. It has given the world the Delta Works, the Compact Disc and the TomTom navigation system. It has clear ambitions concerning the present and the future: increased innovation, a strong knowledge economy and a competitive international position.
The Innovation Platform supports these ambitions. Our aim is to ensure that the prosperity and economy of the Netherlands is preserved and strengthened. We are achieving this by breaking down obstacles and stirring the imagination. We challenge people to excel in innovation. Now and in the future. This is what the Innovation Platform is all about.
Dr Balkenende took office as Prime Minister of the first government to bear his name in 2002. Since 2007 he has been serving as Prime Minister of the fourth Balkenende government. He has chaired the Innovation Platform since his previous term of government.