One of the goals of the Balkenende government was for the Netherlands to become one of the top five countries in the world in the areas of higher education, research and innovation. To this end, the government founded the Innovation Platform in 2003. The Platform was to remain in existence for the duration of the government’s term of office, and so the end of that term also marks the end of the Innovation Platform.

Therefore, the project office has also been closed.

Please see below for more information about the Innovation Platform’s mission and members.

Innovation is inextricably linked with the Netherlands. Groundbreaking initiatives and innovative ways of working and doing business are what make the Netherlands the strong knowledge economy that it is. Internationally, we hold a highly competitive position. We constantly seek out innovation, growth and progress. This applies regionally, nationally and internationally and in every professional area and sector. However, innovation requires new initiatives, growth is impossible without passion and the will to achieve is essential to ensure progress. We need fertile ground that offers room for the imagination and that creates scope for experimentation and innovation. We need an icebreaker to forge a way forward and remove obstacles. This is the role of the Dutch Innovation Platform.