Organs-on-chips, recyclable windmill blades and hands-free food production. That may sound a long way off, but the NXTGEN-HIGHTECH program is working hard on this. With the support of the National Growth Fund, more than 330 parties from the business community and knowledge institutions will work together on new high-tech machines and production technologies to bring these developments to the market.
Netherlands back to top
The Netherlands is an international leader in the field of ultra-precise high-tech equipment. But the continuity of this position is threatened by political interests and growing competition from other parts of the world. In addition, investments in R&D are considerably lower than in other knowledge countries, and that costs growth. The goal of NXTGEN HIGHTECH is to bring the Netherlands back to the top and to contribute to solutions for major societal challenges. To achieve this, the NXTGEN HIGHTECH program will invest approximately €1 billion until 2030 and will boost the Dutch economy with 330 partners. The National Growth Fund supports this program with 450 million euros. “The urgency of new technological applications is high and we need solutions now,” says Marc Hendrikse, Chairman of the Board of NXTGEN HIGHTECH. “The strength lies in the breadth of the programme. We are not only working on new applications and technologies, but also on digitizing factories and the supply chain,” he says. A unique approach that not only strengthens the position of the Dutch high-tech sector, but also significantly increases our competitive position. With these partnerships, the Netherlands and Europe can hold their own in the competitive knowledge economy in which we find ourselves.
