Dual-use innovations
Dual-use goods are products, technologies or software that can be used for both civilian and military applications. This means they can be used for normal, peaceful purposes, but also for military applications. An example is drones. These are widely used, including for monitoring shipping in the port of Rotterdam. But drones can also be used militarily to reconnoitre areas and monitor infrastructure. For Defence, dual-use innovations are important because they allow them to use technology developed outside the armed forces.
Investing in innovation
Defence is focusing on five technology areas where the Netherlands has a strong position: smart materials, sensors, quantum technology, space technology, and intelligent systems (AI). To best utilise this knowledge and innovative strength, close collaboration between government, Defence, and businesses is essential. Therefore, in North Holland, Defence, the province, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Business Representation steering group, and ROM InWest are working together in the Defence Innovation Team North Holland. Within this network, there is a two-way exchange: issues from Defence can be shared with innovative entrepreneurs who may have a solution, and conversely, entrepreneurs with an interesting proposition for Defence are helped in establishing a collaboration. In this way, dual-use technologies not only contribute to the security and resilience of the Netherlands but also strengthen the future earning capacity of the region.
Faster to collaboration
Niels Blij chairs the Business Representation Steering Group and explains what it does: “The Steering Group is the voice’ of the regional companies towards Defence. Together, we look at opportunities, make valuable connections and build bridges to the armed forces. And we help companies working on potential dual-use products to get in touch with Defence more quickly. Those lines are often too long now, while we no longer have that time. Especially in peacetime, we need to open the channels and invest in technology and cooperation. That way, we ensure that the infrastructure is ready to scale up quickly when circumstances change. Moreover, an important advantage of dual-use is that if military equipment runs out, you can fall back on technology that is also used civilian and is more widely available.”
From personal experience
Chairing the steering committee seems right up Niels' alley. He worked in the Army for eight years, then had his own company and is now head of Defence Innovations & Relations at Avy, one of the largest Dutch drone developers. In this role, he bridges the gap between Avy and Defence. Avy's long-range drones have also recently become dual-use and can be used for, for example, reconnaissance of areas, monitoring infrastructure and supply routes, and transporting medical supplies. Niels: “As a former soldier with combat experience, I speak the language of Defence and know what the people in uniform need. We are now discussing where our drones have the best applications.”
Call: working together for the Netherlands
Niels is calling on businesses in North Holland that already have dual-use products, but also on entrepreneurs who are unsure whether their product is dual-use: “We want to map out all potential dual-use companies in North Holland, even if they don’t yet have a concrete defence application. This could involve companies that make a specific product, but also the supply chain is important, such as certain plastics. We invite these businesses to participate in our working group. In the working group, we share knowledge with each other and there is a lot of valuable cross-pollination. All innovative entrepreneurs are welcome, even if a company’s activities fall outside the five focus areas. We will then look together if participation in the working group is beneficial. It is important that dual-use companies unite and that ideas from companies reach Defence more quickly. This is how we work together from North Holland for the Netherlands. The brand-new Defence Innovation Team North Holland is ‘open for business’, so sign up!”
Do you want to contribute to security, strategic autonomy and innovation with your company? Then we would like to get in touch! Apply to our Business Developer Dual Use René Schmitt. He can also tell you how to apply for funding from the SecFund, a special fund for Dutch startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs developing dual-use technologies.
