Minister Beljaarts: 'Adjustments innovation toolbox NTS in the works.' But are they coming in time?

The Minister of Economy has sent a letter to the House of Representatives on the progress of the National Technology Strategy (NTS). As the minister works to align innovation instruments with the NTS, the question remains whether the government can respond quickly enough to the needs of technology companies. The urgency is clear: without adequate support, the Netherlands risks losing the competitive battle and missing out on important innovations. In short, it is five to twelve for the Dutch tech sector.

In October, CEOs of ten Dutch deep-tech scale-ups presented a manifesto to call attention to crucial technologies. They called for consistent policy and faster government decision-making to prevent promising companies from leaving for funding abroad.

The gap between policy and practice

Minister Beljaarts' letter shows a clear discrepancy between government planning and the acute needs of the technology sector. Where the minister talks about developing action agendas that may take until the third quarter of 2025, CEOs of Dutch scale-ups warn that immediate action is necessary. In a meeting on Oct. 22, TNO's Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi articulated the core problem as follows: “The government often takes years to make decisions where these scale-ups have a few months at most.”

“The government takes so long to reach decisions that when an application is finally granted, I sometimes have to think very hard about what it was for,” adds Koenraad Wiedhaup of Leyden Labs. “We are then many steps further along in our development. We have no choice, in our industry, we have to work with pandemic urgency.”

Concrete steps versus bureaucratic processes

The minister announced that the EZ instruments will be reviewed and adjusted. Two concrete measures are the adjustment of the Thematic Technology Transfer Scheme and parts of the SME Innovation Stimulation Top Sectors.

These adjustments contrast with the scale-ups' three core requests: consistent long-term policies, faster access to funds, and shared risk with the government and the private sector. The NTS Tech Champions manifesto represents ten critical technology areas, including Optics (SMART Photonics), Quantum (QuantWare), Biotechnology (Leyden Labs), and AI (Cradle). These companies represent exactly those technologies in which the Netherlands wants to excel, according to the NTS.

EIC to invest €1.4 billion in deeptech and scaleup of strategic technologies

The European Innovation Council (EIC), part of the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, will support European deep tech research and high-potential start-ups with €1.4 billion next yea

International competitiveness

The urgency is underscored by Ingrid Thijssen of VNO-NCW, who points to the deteriorating competitive position vis-à-vis the United States: “25 years ago we were just as rich, now that country has far surpassed us, just because they did consistently boost their technology sector.” In his letter, the minister acknowledges that the Netherlands will face space, labor, and energy constraints. However, this recognition does not translate into the swift action the sector is calling for. While the government works to establish innovation coalitions and develop 10 action agendas, potential unicorns threaten to leave for the U.S. for funding.

Race against the clock

Mattijs Slee's words resonate: “We are optimistic because we still have the opportunity to do the right thing. But it is five to twelve.” The minister has provided money for practical support and is asking Regional Development Companies (ROMs) to engage SMEs. However, these measures seem insufficient to keep up with the pace of international developments. Seven of the 10 companies present at the NTS Tech Champions meeting have already received government support, but the question is whether this support is sufficiently rapid and substantial to ensure their international competitiveness.

Future prospects

The minister promises to come up with a progress letter presenting further steps in the third quarter of 2025. This timeline is at odds with the urgency expressed by the sector. The question is whether the Netherlands can allow itself the luxury of waiting another year and a half for concrete action, while other countries are actively promoting their technology sectors and luring Dutch talent and companies away.