'Innovative and productive above average, crucial for solving social challenges and the export engine of the Dutch economy.' That, in a nutshell, is the picture of the manufacturing industry that emerges from the TNO report 'The value of Dutch industry' that Ingrid Thijssen (chairman VNO-NCW) and Theo Henrar (chairman FME) received on April 4th, from TNO CEO Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi.
Social development
According to Theo Henrar, the manufacturing industry in the Netherlands is of great value, and this report confirms that once again. “We need the manufacturing industry for social developments that we all consider important. The report clearly shows that the Dutch manufacturing industry is very strong and bears the weight of the investments in R&D in the Netherlands. The resulting innovation is crucial for the global competitiveness of the Netherlands."
But according to Henrar, we also see that this role of the manufacturing industry in social transitions is not self-evident, because the Netherlands does not achieve its objectives in the field of innovation and R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP. "The risk of de-industrialization is therefore lurking and that has negative consequences for the Dutch economy. Moreover, countries around us are making more use of the space they receive from Brussels to invest, which has an enormous disadvantage for our industry. FME for more investments in innovation and for a level European playing field."
