The National Technology Strategy
Technological developments are happening at lightning speed. Because the Netherlands wants to stay part of this, the government has developed the National Technology Strategy. This strategy identifies ten so-called key technologies that are important for the future earning capacity and strategic autonomy of the Netherlands. Semiconductors, energy materials, quantum technologies and mechatronics are examples of these key technologies.
Within the National Technology Strategy, the locations in the Netherlands where concentrations of relevant knowledge and science on certain technologies are located have been identified. After all, where knowledge, entrepreneurship and market converge, there are the greatest opportunities to develop a key technology economically. Commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the ROMs (Regional Development Companies) then analysed which regions contain companies that already apply these technologies. Today, the ROMs presented their Regional Reinforcement Plan National Technology Strategy (RV-NTS) to Director General Business and Innovation Erwin Nijsse (Ministry of Economic Affairs) and Meindert Stolk (on behalf of the Interprovincial Consultation - IPO).
ROMs analysis
Eric explains how the ROMs arrived at that plan: “The ROMs have a good overview of what is happening in a region. Where there are concentrations of relevant knowledge, entrepreneurship and market, we translated the key technologies nationwide into 14 concrete value chains, including AI in healthcare, protein transition, quantum, MedTech and cybersecurity. In determining a value chain, we looked at patent positions, ongoing R&D activities, the presence of relevant expertise in adjacent industries and the complexity of the technology, among other things.” Linze explains, “The idea behind this is that through the value chains, we focus on clusters around a complex technology that the region is already strong in. That gives more chance of success than focusing on a low-level technology that any region can start tomorrow. If a region already has industries similar to that value chain, you are even more likely to succeed.”
North Holland remarkably promising
In this analysis of value chains, Noord-Holland came out particularly strong: out of 14 value chains, no fewer than six stand out as promising for Noord-Holland. These are regenerative medicine (exploring the body's self-healing capacity and using it for new therapies), AI in healthcare, protein transition, green chemistry, AI and robots in agriculture and horticulture, and precision fermentation and cellular agriculture. Eric: “This shows that North Holland is very well positioned in terms of breadth. These are ‘hardcore tech’ value chains - and that while we are a region without a technical university. That's remarkable.”
Focus on three growth markets
From the analysis of the value chains, the ROMs decided to jointly deploy forces and resources over the next two years on five growth markets where the Netherlands makes a difference internationally:
- Deeptech: Semicon, Quantum and Photonics
- Life Sciences & Health (LSH): MedTech and regenerative medicine
- Autonomous manufacturing: robotisation and smart factories
- Green chemistry: circular materials and making the chemical industry more sustainable
- Protein transition (Future Food): from precision fermentation to field beans
In these growth markets, ROM InWest will cooperate nationwide with the other ROMs. “Such a large number of promising value chains in North Holland forces us to make choices. ROM InWest's focus this year will therefore be particularly on Life Sciences & Health, Green Chemistry and Autonomous Manufacturing, because this is where we are particularly strong,” Linze said.
The examples speak for themselves: Healthplus.AI and DOPS
Good examples of North Holland companies that are successful in LSH and Green Chemistry respectively are Healthplus.AI and DOPS Recycling Technologies.
Eric: “ROM InWest has invested in a number of startups working on AI applications for future-proof and affordable healthcare. A good example of such a MedTech company is Healthplus.Ai,. With their PERISCOPE platform, this company predicts the risk of infections per patient and links that to concrete treatment actions to prevent post-operative complications. This allows healthcare teams to spot complications earlier, shortens recovery times and reduces healthcare costs.”
DOPS Recycling Technologies is an example of a company that stands out within Green Chemistry. DOPS makes new, valuable raw materials from waste. Eric: “With their Direct Carbon Immobilisation (DCI) technology, they convert difficult-to-process waste, such as organic material, plastics and metals, into reusable products such as synthetic gas (syngas) and activated carbon. And they do so with much lower carbon emissions than traditional techniques. We see this technology as a smart solution, both within waste recycling, the energy transition and the development of the circular economy. All transitions that contribute to a sustainable regional economy in North Holland.”
Together for an even stronger North Holland
Linze concludes: “Thanks to the analysis and strategy of the ROMs, we now know even better where we as North Holland are strong and where the greatest opportunities lie, both for entrepreneurs and for the region as a whole. For example, we also see a lot of potential in Quantum and are in talks with the municipality of Amsterdam about this to provide appropriate support there too. Although knowledge and activity are partly concentrated in Amsterdam, we see that high-tech activity is widely spread in the region. Medical biotechnology, for instance, is strongly represented economically in the municipalities of Haarlemmermeer, Amstelveen and Gooise Meren. In addition, the new medical isotope reactor to be built in Petten forms a crucial link in the national development of Life Sciences & Health in the Netherlands. As ROM InWest, we connect the national government with innovative companies in North Holland and, together with partners such as the Amsterdam Economic Board, Greenport Noord-Holland Noord, municipalities and the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region, ensure that connection. By focusing on our regional strengths, we are building a future-proof economy.”
