Circular economy

The transition to a circular economy is at the heart of Dutch innovation policy, with tangible goals for 2030. Within the high-tech sector (HTSM), efforts are made to adapt manufacturing processes and consequently boost a circular economy. In spite of the challenges, this transition also offers new opportunities, in which the HTSM sector plays a crucial role. Holland High Tech’s Transition Team Circular Economy emphasises the importance and works on the tangible implementation through roadmaps.

Stand of affairs

Ambition

Action points

Stand of affairs

One of the important transitions in the mission-driven innovation policy is the transition to a circular economy. The Netherlands wants a completely circular economy by 2050. This means that the environmental effects of our use of raw materials remain within the planetary limits (Letter to Parliament ‘Revised missions of the mission-driven innovation policy’).

At Holland High Tech, we recognize that the circular economy is becoming an ever more important topic for the high-tech manufacturing industry. We are devoted to this theme, because we are convinced that the high-tech sector must provide an essential contribution to achieve the objectives of a circular economy.

We need to alter our current manufacturing processes and business models, because only then can we start to work towards circular processes and models. If we fail to do this, we run the risk, as a sector, of losing our licence to operate (TNO report: 'The value of Dutch industry'). Because society will set limits on the copious use of raw materials according to the Critical Raw Materials Act presented by the European Commission. Of course, these changes take time and money to realise, but they also offer new opportunities. As the HTSM sector, we can supply technologies and materials with which other sectors can realise the turnaround to a circular economy. This also provides splendid opportunities for new business ventures. We can recycle, repurpose or dismantle products or systems.

At Holland High Tech, we recognise that the circular economy is becoming an ever more important topic for the high-tech manufacturing industry. We are devoted to this theme, because we are convinced that the high-tech sector must provide an essential contribution to achieve a circular economy. Above all, this transition offers opportunities for our community. To increase attention for this theme, we have established the Transition Team Circular Economy. Comprising representatives from the roadmaps and Holland High Tech. How we actually devote attention to circularity is fleshed out in detail in the roadmaps.

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Ambition

Holland High Tech wants to support the community in a successful transition to the circular economy. We do this through focusing on innovation programmes with which we effect a significant step towards the circular economy within and beyond the HTSM sector. We develop a tangible action agenda for the circular economy within the high-tech sector. Based on this agenda, we work on innovations on behalf of and with the high-tech manufacturing industry that make a global contribution to the circular transition.

Action points

Establishing the agenda

Our agenda focuses on three effects of the transition to the circular economy on our HTSM sector: how do we innovate our own products and processes to make them more sustainable, how do we innovate products and processes from other sectors to make them more sustainable and how can we take advantage of opportunities that the transition offers for new value chains?

We want a good connection with other circular activities in the Netherlands. Which is why, for our agenda, we are adhering to the Knowledge and Innovation agenda (KIA) Circular Economy 2024-2027 programme layout:

1. Design for circularity

We replace materials, for example with biomaterials, recycled materials and through element substitution in metal alloys. In addition, we create robust designs to improve product service life. We design them in such a way that they are easy to maintain, repair, refurbish and remanufacture.

2. Circular raw material chains and processes

We optimise the use of circular raw materials and improve raw material efficiency in processes. This concerns the reuse and recycling of plastics (see the NGF project Circular Plastics NL that was established partly under the auspices of the Top Sector HTSM) metals and critical raw materials (see the National Raw Materials Strategy) and the replacement of fossil-based raw materials with bio-based raw materials. We focus here on technical and system innovations so that, as a high-tech sector, we ourselves utilise raw materials more efficiently and, in doing so, develop solutions for other sectors.

3. System transition and acceptance

More is required for a successful transition than just technological innovations. We need to garner involvement from companies, consumers and governments in this transition. Our attention will hone in on awareness: the realisation that the transition to a circular economy is necessary and offers opportunities for high-tech industry. We emphasise the importance of cooperation between industry and government to create markets for solutions for a circular economy.

In addition to the KIA Circular Economy programme layout, we add a fourth line: digitalisation. Digitalisation has an important role to play in achieving the circular objectives with and beyond our sector. Good examples are circular product passports, predictive and preventative maintenance, digital twins and return logistics. Far-reaching digitalisation is required so that our sector can take the following - and sufficient - steps towards circularity and further increase productivity.

Programming of activities

With our agenda for action as a starting point, we put the transition to a circular economy centre stage. Not just in the programming for Holland High Tech and the Top Sector High Tech Systems and Materials, but also in the roadmaps for our sector. The Transition Team tables proposals from this agenda for additional stimulating measures for circular innovations. These proposals are supplementary to the projects that have already been presented by the strategic programmes from the PPS Innovation Scheme to the knowledge institutes.

In addition, as Holland High Tech, we have heightened alertness for opportunities for new public-private cooperation for the circular economy: do they really fit within the KIA Circular Economy, do they fall within the scope of the National Growth fund or a European context? Finally, as Holland High Tech, we are in consultation with national and regional authorities to remove obstacles.