At Holland High Tech, we are delighted that Peter Stolk, chairman of Holland High Tech, has been formally appointed Chairman of Key Enabling Technologies by the Minister of Economic Affairs. This appointment gives the joint national approach to innovative key enabling technologies additional momentum and clear leadership, precisely at a time when the Netherlands wants to accelerate the transition from agenda to implementation.
Strong impetus for acceleration and implementation of innovation around the ten NTS priorities
In this approach, Holland High Tech plays a central role as coordinator of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda for Key Technologies (KIA ST). We are responsible for connecting stakeholders, organizing collaboration, and playing a substantial role in the innovation programming and implementation of key technologies in the Netherlands. From this position, Holland High Tech, together with partners from government, knowledge institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations, works to strengthen ecosystems and scale up innovation towards application and revenue generation.
Appointment confirms governance and strengthens impact management
With the formal appointment, Peter Stolk's role as chair further strengthens the KIA ST's leadership capacity. The focus will be on advising, prioritizing, connecting stakeholders, and achieving impact around the ten priority key technologies and their action agendas for the National Technology Strategy (NTS).
Peter Stolk, Chairman of Key Technologies and Chairman of Holland High Tech:
The coming years will be about accelerating and daring to make choices. The Netherlands has everything it takes: strong innovation, knowledge, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration. Now is the time to harness that strength, grow ecosystems, and scale up initiatives – so that key technologies visibly contribute to innovation and our earning capacity.
Holland High Tech: KIA ST coordinator and driving force behind key technology innovation
As coordinator of the KIA ST, Holland High Tech, together with TNO, NWO, 4TU, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, ensures coherence between action agendas, innovation coalitions, programming, and implementation. This is done in close collaboration with the organizations involved in the quadrupel helix, and with a focus on concrete applications: from research and roadmaps to demonstration, scaling up, and market impact.
Key Technologies Chair's Core Tasks
The role of Chairman of Key Technologies extends beyond the governance of the KIA ST. Core responsibilities include:
- Bringing together representatives from the quadruple helix around the ten NTS priorities, in close coordination with the KIA ST Theme Team and relevant organizations.
- Advising on strategic program implementations outlined in the industry brief and the role of key enabling technologies within these programs.
- Participating in cross-cutting key enabling forums, including the Semicon Board NL.
- Contributing to internationalization initiatives (missions, trade fairs, delegation visits).
These tasks are carried out in accordance with the KIA ST code of conduct, based on the principles of trust, efficiency, and a focus on the impact of Dutch innovation.
Erwin Nijsse, Director-General for Business & Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate:
With this formal designation, we can leverage our shared commitment to make an even more targeted impact: bringing parties together, helping to make clear programming choices, and, above all, moving from action agendas to implementation through powerful innovation coalitions. This strengthens the Dutch ecosystem for key technologies and our international position, thereby laying the foundation for our innovation and industrial policy.
Accelerating with key technologies: from potential to impact
Key technologies will determine our future autonomy, health, security, and ability to address major societal challenges. Therefore, the Netherlands is explicitly committed to acceleration: increased collaboration, greater focus, and more implementation of the NTS priorities.
A key focus for the coming period is launching and strengthening innovation coalitions. This will create a recognizable ecosystem around ten priority technologies and their associated action agendas, enabling them to move more quickly: from ideas and roadmaps to concrete initiatives, partnerships, and implementation. Following the official presentation of the action agendas on January 26th, it's now time to organize and accelerate their implementation together.
