Under the leadership of Holland High Tech figurehead Marc Hendrikse, and in collaboration with organizations including the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, RAI Automotive Industry NL, and NAG, the R&D Mobility Sectors Subsidy Scheme (RDM) was established in 2021. Many companies and knowledge institutions in the mobility sector came under financial pressure during the coronavirus pandemic. This reduced the opportunity to invest in research and development aimed at making the sector more sustainable. The RDM provided support for the continuity of innovation in mobility on land, at sea, and in the air.
The scheme was part of the support and recovery package following the coronavirus crisis and aimed to offset the decline in R&D investments in the mobility sector. A one-time budget of €150 million was made available for this purpose. The RDM thus prevented the three key industries—aviation, maritime, and automotive—from experiencing a significant decline in innovation during the pandemic.
Results presented
Thanks to the grant, eight collaborative programs were funded, carrying out a variety of projects. The initiatives focused on both sustainability and digitalization within the sector.
The involved parties recently presented their results during a closing symposium, which was also attended by Leo Warmerdam of Holland High Tech. The outcomes and experiences from the programs have been compiled in the publication "The Future is Now. An Ode to Eight Innovation Projects in Mobility." This collection demonstrates how collaboration and technological development go hand in hand in shaping the mobility of tomorrow.
We will soon provide a full recap of the scheme and an update on the collaboration programs.
