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Netherlands - National Maritime Research Programme

National policies

The Ministry of Economic Affairs aims to make the Netherlands one of the most attractive knowledge economies for innovative development. That is why the government, despite the difficult budgetary situation, is investing € 800 million in education and knowledge. But money alone is not enough. It is also a question of what trade and industry and knowledge institutions can do themselves to contribute to a greater innovative capacity. A coherent strategy and the input of all parties involved are therefore essential.

New policy measures in the field of innovation are related to process innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises. The industrial business community can achieve significant productivity improvements by facilitating process innovation. Problems encountered in introducing and using new technology often obstruct the modernisation of processes. To improve productivity, the Netherlands organises especially production processes in an ever-smarter way. The cabinet has extended the Research & Development Work Act to process innovation.

The Netherlands generally has a strong public knowledge infrastructure (universities, knowledge institutions, etc). But insufficient interaction exists between the public knowledge infrastructure and companies’ demands and requirements for knowledge. A greater emphasis has been placed in policy on better utilisation of knowledge by small and medium-sized enterprises. This is done by an experiment with innovation vouchers. Such a voucher enables enterprises to purchase knowledge in a simple way from a public knowledge institution and submit research questions. If the experiment is a success, it will be enlarged.

One of the three main lines of the new Dutch industry policy is to boost innovations. A generic innovation policy stimulates the modernisation of all companies. As an extension to this, the government must support innovation focal points, whereby excellent companies and knowledge institutions, including those operating regionally, can jointly capitalise on opportunities for modernisation. This is in line with recent recommendations made by the “Innovation Platform” concerning the support of key areas.

In 2003 the innovation platform has been established by the government. The innovation platform has designated privileged areas which can make an important contribution to the sustainable increase of the Dutch economy. Key areas are: flowers & food, high tech systems and materials, water, creative and chemical sector.

Priority areas

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs would like to develop together with entrepreneur's innovation programmes on promising areas in Dutch economy which are internationally competitive.
In these innovation programmes entrepreneurs together with knowledge institutions identify the research themes within a promising area. For these themes specific research subjects are described. If that is clear, other companies and institutions are identified which can be involved in the further development of these themes. The result is a better focus of the innovation programme. The ministry of Economic Affairs supports these activities, but the lead is in hands of the entrepreneurs.

After the focus is being made the parties write a common vision and strategic agenda for this focus. What are threats and opportunities? What will be the common position of the participating parties in the future? Which goals must have been achieved? Which steps are necessary to achieve these goals?

The vision and strategic agenda will be judged by the minister of Economic Affairs. The minister decides if and how the government can support to the realisation of the strategic agenda. A commission with independent experts (industry, science, public) advises the minister.
If the minister gives its approval to the vision and the strategic agenda, entrepreneurs and institutions can develop this agenda further to an innovation programme. Entrepreneurs indicate what their common (financial) contribution to the innovation programme will be and show how they tackle the innovation programme and organise it. It must become clear that the objectives from the strategic agenda can be obtained effectively.
The Minister of Economic Affairs ascertains whether, and if so, how, the government will provide a contribution to the realisation of the programme. At the appraisal of the innovation programme the minister is recommended by the commission of external experts.

Maritime innovation programmes
The Netherlands didn’t have specific programmes for the maritime industry since 2001. For our shipbuilding industry it was very difficult to participate in general research and development programs because much of the R&D is spent on the ship that has to be sold. And according to EU-rules it isn't allowed to give innovation aid on commercial products.

Since "the EU-framework on state aid to shipbuilding" member states are allowed to grant innovation aid to their shipbuilding industry. At this moment the Netherlands is working on an aid scheme (within the EU-framework) for Dutch shipbuilding industry.

As stated before one of the key areas in the Netherlands is water. The Netherlands is well known for its water management. Dutch companies and institutions have an excellent reputation of water management, water construction, water purification and the maritime sector. At this moment two innovation programmes, water technology and maritime cluster, are developed to strengthen Dutch industry.

At this moment the maritime cluster is writing an innovation programme in the field of water construction (dredge), offshore and the maritime industry (yards and subcontractors) to reinforce their international knowledge and export position.

The Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the inland shipping associations recently signed an agreement to improve sustainability, innovation, market potentials and security in the field of the performances of the inland shipping. An important appointment is the choice of the minister for an automatic identification system within the framework of the setting-up of River Information services. This system is also used in sea-shipping.

Moreover the parties strive to switch over in Europe as soon as possible to fuel without sulphur. This measure is necessary to ensure that the inland shipping will be the cleanest transport modality in 2016.

Furthermore the minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management makes 10 million euro available for inland shipping innovation projects. The company branch contributes 1.9 million euro to the establishment of a new expertise and innovation centre for the inland shipping.

Funding organisations

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

Responsibility for Science & Technology lies jointly between two Dutch ministries - the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschappen) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Ministerie van Economische Zaken).
The Directorate of Research and Scientific Policy is responsible for S&T within the Ministry. Their mandate includes the formulation and coordination of the science and information policy; the creation of an international science and technology policy and the implementation thereof; policy development and coordination of research areas and organisations.

Ministry of Economic Affairs

The Directorate of Innovation within the Ministry of Economic Affairs is responsible for the Dutch innovation policy. Its mandate is to strengthen innovation policy within the Dutch economy in the areas of knowledge, technology, labour and innovative entrepreneurs. The core tasks of the Directorate include: vision and knowledge of innovation; improved efficiency of the public knowledge infrastructure; promotion of innovation development in the market; establishment of a strong ICT base.

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

The Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management makes 10 million Euro available for inland shipping innovation projects.

Funding of Marin by Dutch government

Four ministries, the Ministries of Economic Affairs, Transport, Public Works and Water Management Education, Culture and Science and Defence, have a relationship with Marin. On behalf of the ministries of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and Education, Culture and Science the ministry of Economic Affairs looks after the financing of the research programs of Marin. The Ministry of Defence has a separate relationship with Marin.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs supports Marin with 2.4 million Euro in 2007. The Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management supports Marin with 0.7 million Euro in 2007. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science supports Marin with 0.9 million Euro in 2007. The Ministry of Defence has 0.4 million Euro available.

Funding of WL Delft Hydraulics by Dutch government

The Ministry of Economic Affairs supports WL Delft Hydraulics with 1.5 million euro in 2007 on the condition that fifty percent of WL Delft Hydraulics is being financed by industry, not only by large companies. The Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science support WL Delft with 3.5 million Euro in 2007.

Programme information

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs will fund the following programmes:

1. Maritime Innovation Programme
The maritime cluster is writing an innovation programme in the field of water construction (dredge), offshore and the maritime industry (yards and subcontractors) to reinforce their international knowledge and export position.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs will provide a contribution to the realisation of the programme. At the appraisal of the innovation programme the minister is recommended by the commission of external experts. But first this commission must agree with the proposed innovation programme. Probably in February 2007 decisions will be made regarding the launch of a Maritime Innovation Programme.

2. Aid scheme on innovation for shipbuilding industry
Since "the EU-framework on state aid to shipbuilding" member states are allowed to grant innovation aid to their shipbuilding industry. At this moment the Netherlands is working on an aid scheme (within the EU-framework) for Dutch shipbuilding industry.
But first the European Commission must agree with the Dutch aid scheme.
The Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD) and SenterNovem will administer this scheme that will be funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The EVD and SenterNovem are part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

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