The Netherlands scores high on technology, but is missing opportunities to turn that technology into economic growth and global market leaders. To break this "innovation paradox," the Regional Development Companies (ROMs) have created a Regional Reinforcement Plan National Technology Strategy (RV-NTS) in 2025. The plan was presented today to Director General of Business and Innovation Erwin Nijsse (Ministry of Economic Affairs) and Meindert Stolk (on behalf of the Interprovincial Consultation - IPO).
The Regional Reinforcement Plan dovetails seamlessly with the Knowledge and Innovation Agendas (KIAs) presented Monday, Jan. 26. In doing so, it links the technology of the National Technology Strategy to concrete growth markets. The goal is to strengthen the competitive position of the Netherlands and allow technological startups and scale-ups here to grow into the market leaders of tomorrow.
Response to the Wennink report
The plan responds directly to the recent call in Wennink's report ("The route to future prosperity," December 2025). Wennink calls for strong regional clusters and focus on strategic niches to make the national strategy pay off.
The RV-NTS is not a policy document. It is an implementation plan. Over the past year, the ROMs conducted interviews with more than 750 innovative companies. Their input on concrete bottlenecks in funding, regulation and labor market is the foundation of this implementation plan.
"The analysis has been made, the strategy is in place. Now it's time for implementation," says Wendy de Jong, director of Oost NL and chairman of ROM-Nederland. "Technology is wonderful, but without customers, funding and production chains you have no business. With this plan, we connect the technological strength of the Netherlands to the commercial strength of the region. We go from 'policy' to 'business'".
Erwin Nijsse: "I find it an appealing example in which the joint ROMs have cleverly combined their expertise and qualities from their 3 I's (innovate, internationalize, invest) into one national plan. And in it they also make concrete how they want to contribute collectively to a number of important value chains in the Netherlands. It fits well with Wennink's message. And for Wennink to succeed, our cooperation is crucial."
Meindert Stolk on behalf of IPO adds: "This regional strengthening plan gives the National Technology Strategy hands and feet in the regions. It provides a practical basis for implementing provincial economic policy together with the ROMs and companies."
5 Strategic focal points for supra-regional cooperation
To avoid fragmentation and create immediate mass, the ROMs are opting for a sharp focus in their supra-regional cooperation. Partly in the context of the new industry policy with a focus on six strategic growth markets, the ROMs have decided to fully combine forces and resources over the next two years on five absolute priorities where the Netherlands makes a difference internationally:
- Deeptech: Semicon, Quantum and Photonics
- Life Sciences & Health (LSH): MedTech and regenerative medicine
- Autonomous production: robotization and smart factories
- Green chemistry: circular materials and making the chemical industry sustainable
- Protein transition (Future Food): from precision fermentation to field beans
Call for entrepreneurs
The handover is the starting signal for implementation. This spring, the project teams for each value chain will seek cooperation with the market to make the plans concrete.
To start the discussion sharp, the ROMs have translated the policy plans into clear market propositions per sector. This is not a slammed plan, but a concrete offer that serves as a starting point for cooperation.
Entrepreneurs can register via the ROM-Netherlands website. They will then receive this proposition for their market and will be approached to help build the plans for the coming years.
Pictured from left to right: Robbert Koldenhof (Director LIOF), Martijn van Gruijthuijsen (Member of the Provincial Executive for Economy, Talent Development & Finance at the Province of Noord-Brabant - on behalf of IPO), Meindert Stolk (Member of the Provincial Executive for the Province of Zuid-Holland - on behalf of IPO), Erwin Nijsse (Director-General for Business & Innovation Ministry of Economic Affairs), Wendy de Jong (Director of Oost NL and Chairman ROM-Nederland), Erwin Hoogland (Delegate for the Province of Overijssel - on behalf of IPO) and Sandor Gaastra (Secretary General Ministry of Economic Affairs).
Photo: Irene Vijfvinkel