Focus on the Netherlands

Top Team

The Dutch cabinet has appointed a ‘Top Team’ (consisting of an ambassador, a scientist, an SME representative and a top civil servant) for each sector and consults with them about their agendas for knowledge and innovation, human capital and internationalisation. The MTIP has at its disposal resources and instruments from EZK and other departments and knowledge institutions. This set of tools enables solutions to social challenges to be developed within the ‘Innovation Helix’. Schaap explains: “We do this through a public-private partnership (PPP) structure whereby the interests of companies are increasingly becoming more parallel with the major societal challenges. We know that ITEA has similar priorities in terms of these challenges. Central to this PPP approach is the combination of economic opportunities and societal challenges, the key technologies that contribute to this, the application of the new knowledge, and the associated social and societal aspects. This is also closely linked to European programmes such as Eureka and Horizon Europe. We can see that very clearly in evidence in the ICT and software innovation focus of ITEA in domains like (smart) health and energy.”

Good early signs for MTIP

Two years on from the launch of the MTIP in 2019, a first interim evaluation was conducted in 2021 and it showed that the participants value the MTIP for three reasons. “Firstly,” says Schaap, “it ensures more cross-sectoral and public-private collaboration on research and innovation projects, which makes it easier to form a consortium. Secondly, like the conductor of an orchestra, the missions orchestrate the deployment of resources and ensure joint agendas along with a more programmatic approach. Finally, private co-financing is generally significant, which creates a leverage effect that allows more to be achieved with public funds.” This Dutch approach is also the recipient of fulsome international praise. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) compares innovation missions in a growing number of countries and calls the Dutch approach “among the most ambitious mission-oriented strategic frameworks”, especially because it brings together economic sectors and social missions.

Eureka Clusters – evaluation and reform

Of course, the approach stands or falls by the players that contribute to the ‘team’ effort, such as the Eureka Clusters. Schaap is pleased to note the very good news that “a Dutch evaluation of the Eureka Clusters in 2020 revealed a positive picture about the effectiveness of the Eureka Clusters. Companies that participate in the Clusters, including ITEA, indicate that participation in the Eureka Clusters promotes and advances more and better international R&D collaboration, the acquisition of new technological knowledge and a faster turnaround time for innovations.” During the Dutch Eureka Chairmanship from July 2019 to July 2020, the Eureka Clusters were reformed, undergoing a number of major improvements. “No easy task,” says Schaap, “because of all the different players and diversity of input. But well worth it in the end. For example, the revamped Eureka Clusters Programme (ECP) continues to focus on fostering international collaboration in trusted innovation ecosystems while providing greater flexibility (as in the Joint Eureka Clusters AI Calls) to address emerging societal and economic challenges as well. ITEA is clearly very well positioned to play a leading role in this new Eureka Clusters setting.”