Deeptech scaleups are of great importance to the innovation ecosystem of the Netherlands. They are on the verge of making a real social and economic impact with new (key) technology through scaling up. The 10 TechChampions, one for each topic of the National Technology Strategy (NTS), are therefore also involved in drawing up the action agendas for each NTS technology. In these action agendas, which we initiate from the KIA ST, the most important players in each innovation ecosystem make plans for what they are going to do and want to do in the coming years to realize the ambitions of the NTS.
Tech Champions, 10 CEOs of deeptech scale-ups that focus on the technologies of the National Technology Strategy (NTS), entered into a conversation in Nieuwspoort with leaders including Ingrid Thijssen (VNO-NCW), Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau (Techleap) and Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi (TNO). The focus was on the importance of these companies for the earning power of the Netherlands and the need for rapid and consistent policy measures.
Manifesto with three focal points
- the stability of WBSO regulations
- rapid decision-making on subsidies and permits
- the courage to take risks together
This was followed by an interview for BNR Digitaal with Johan Feenstra, CEO of SMART Photonics, and Ton van Mol, director of the Holst Centre. They explain the three important points from the manifesto and want to attract the attention of politicians with this. In their words: "Because we have to invest now in order to reap the benefits in ten, twenty or even thirty years. Investments must focus on the ten core technologies formulated in the National Technology Strategy. The Netherlands must get to work, and quickly."