Dutch tech protected: four interventions last year
Last year, the BTI screening team intervened at four Dutch companies to protect the economy.
Published on May 13, 2025
Team IO+ selects and features the most important news stories on innovation and technology, carefully curated by our editors.
Geopolitical tensions are putting pressure on the economic security of the Netherlands. To protect our economy, we have the Vifo Act: a security assessment for investments, mergers, and acquisitions of companies in critical sectors. It now appears that action was taken against four Dutch companies last year. This is stated in the new annual report of the Investment Assessment Bureau (BTI).
The war in Ukraine, rising tensions between the US and China: we are living in uncertain times. Geopolitical developments are also putting pressure on the economic security of the Netherlands. Foreign parties are increasingly targeting Dutch companies and investments. This can be harmful. That is why protecting our economic security is more important than ever.
This is underpinned by the Vifo Act, which requires a security assessment for companies in strategic sectors. This act, which has been in force since 2023, requires strategic acquisitions, mergers, and investments to be assessed for national security risks. The Vifo Act specifically focuses on digital resilience. The assessment is carried out by the Investment Screening Bureau (BTI), which is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Four interventions
The BTI screening team conducted 83 investigations in 2024. In more than half of these cases, unconditional approval was granted.
In four cases, however, the investigation led to a review decision. Three of these were approved with conditions after an extensive investigation. In one case, this proved impossible, and the Minister of Economic Affairs, in agreement with the Minister of Justice and Security, had to make use of the option to prohibit a transaction. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the cases, no details can be shared.
Adding new technologies
To prevent important knowledge and technology from falling into the wrong hands in the future, the government is currently working on adding several new technologies to the law. These include biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and nuclear technology for medical use.
