Minister Adriaansens Reassesses Dutch Mission-Driven Innovation Policy

Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Micky Adriaansens has reassessed the mission-driven innovation policy (MTIB), she announced to the Dutch parliament in a letter. The mission-driven innovation policy contributes to various policy objectives. The minister addresses 5 central missions: energy transition, circular economy, life sciences & health, agriculture, and security. 

In mission-driven innovation policy, government, business, knowledge institutions and other stakeholders work together on innovation for economic and social impact. This is done by means of missions. Innovators are challenged to come up with concrete solutions to the challenges facing the Netherlands. These efforts are combined in joint Knowledge and Innovation Agendas (KIAs).

In her letter, the minister states that The Netherlands faces a variety of threats that could endanger the way we live and work. For the Mission ‘Security’, those threats are, for example, the war in Ukraine, cyberattacks, organised crime and disinformation.  To combat those threats, the Dutch government is looking for innovations using the latest scientific insights, key technologies, and applications. They have reaffirmed the need to organise such efforts in coalitions and partnerships.

The following innovation missions are part of this effort:

• By 2030, organized crime in the Netherlands will be risky and rewarded poorly, through increased visibility of illegal activities and tracking of financial flows. 
• By 2035, the Netherlands will have a future-proof navy.
• By 2030, the Netherlands will have an operationally deployable space capability for defense and security.
• By 2030, security is mandatory in the development of digital products, and the Netherlands has a strong cybersecurity knowledge and innovation chain. 
• By 2030, the armed forced will be operationally fully networked with integration of new technologies to act faster and more effectively than the adversary.

The minister also warns that the development and upscaling of innovation do not happen by themselves. This requires pooling of activities and resources, public and private, national, regional, and international. Security Delta (HSD) looks forward to continuing its role of boosting promising innovative initiatives in cooperation with its partners and will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Justice and Security to explore how to best implement the Mission Security.

For more information: https://dutchdigitaldelta.nl/nieuws/kamerbrief-herijkte-missies-van-het-missiegedreven-innovatiebeleid