If you don't choose, you lose: new industrial policy with focus

This new industrial policy combines the ten priority enabling technologies from the National Technology Strategy (2024) with growth markets as identified earlier this year by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The new industrial policy aims to ensure that industry accounts for at least 15% of GDP by 2030 and that joint R&D investments amount to at least 3% of GDP. The programmes for each market will be further developed in the coming months. The government will also examine how additional resources can be made available or reallocated.

Minister Karremans: "Given the major challenges we face, such as a tight labour market, a congested power grid and increasing geopolitical tensions, we cannot afford to sit still and fail to make choices. If we want to remain at the top in 2040, we must dare to make choices now. By investing in these six markets where we can really make a difference and really win, we are strengthening our security, economic growth and future prosperity. Ultimately, it's very simple: those who don't choose will lose."

Peter Stolk, chairman of Holland High Tech and chairman of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Key Enabling Technologies: "The clear choice of six growth markets further reinforces the importance of the National Technology Strategy (NTS). Without exception, each of the ten priority key enabling technologies from the NTS contributes to creating a strong technological basis for the growth of these six markets, such as semiconductor technologies, quantum, energy materials, (opto)mechatronics, and many more. As Holland High Tech, we are closely involved in the development of the NTS Action Agendas. These agendas clearly set out the innovation ambitions of the NTS for each key enabling technology. They will be completed by the end of this year and officially presented in January 2026. We look forward to making significant contributions to the programmes for the growth markets and helping to develop them, together with Holland High Tech and all those involved in the Key Enabling Technologies Knowledge and Innovation Agenda.

The six markets

The new industrial policy focuses on six markets in which the Netherlands can compete globally and in which we have a strong starting position. The markets on which the focus is placed have been selected on the basis of (1) economic potential, (2) strategic economic positioning and (3) contribution to solving societal challenges.

• Semiconductors: growing at 8.7% per year and indispensable for AI, the energy transition and digital security. Has many niches in which the Netherlands is or can become a leader, such as quantum and photonics.
• Biotechnology: has strong niches such as cell and gene therapy (15.4% growth per year) and alternative proteins (14.1% growth), and delivers new medicines, circular materials and contributes to food security.
• Defence-related applications: in particular 6G, radar, laser satellite communication and quantum, and the contribution of these growth markets to solving societal challenges.
• Digital services (particularly AI): growing at an average of 16.8% per year and strengthening our digital autonomy, with applications in healthcare, energy and security.
• Machinery manufacturing: such as machines for the agri-food sector (17.1% growth per year), MedTech (5.2% growth per year) and chip machines, contributing to healthcare solutions, automation and sustainability.
• Innovative chemistry: growing rapidly, such as biofuels (21.9% per year) and circular, biobased and advanced materials (27% per year), contributing to sustainability and reducing fossil fuel dependency.

With focus

The Dutch government will create programmes to strengthen these markets, as it has already done for the semiconductor industry with Project Beethoven. In concrete terms, this focus means building programmes for the markets, with resources and actions such as:

• People and resources: programmes per market, with additional capacity, knowledge and coordination from the government. Ways of targeting resources are being explored. This means concentrating resources where the greatest opportunities lie.
• Expanding markets: strengthening ecosystems for the selected markets and, where necessary and possible, stimulating demand, for example through strategic procurement by the government and the EU, so that innovations have a better chance of breaking through more quickly.
• Financing and preconditions: better access to capital, fewer restrictive rules and solutions for space, network congestion, infrastructure and permits.
• International clout: the Netherlands will strengthen its market position by stimulating trade, attracting foreign companies and investments, and participating in European programmes such as IPCEIs, Horizon Europe and the Net Zero Industry Act.
• Talent and knowledge: profiling the Netherlands as a magnet and training ground for digital and technical talent, while investing in fundamental and applied research that has a direct impact on businesses.

More information

News item Dutch Government

Kamerbrief Industriebeleid met focus

Rapport Groeimarkten voor Nederland

Rapport Kansen voor nieuwe innovatiedynamiek - Groeimarkten prioritaire technologieen en missies in samenhang