When it comes to creating the right conditions for innovation, the Netherlands has been performing solidly for years – mainly thanks to its strong knowledge development programmes and extensive government support. With regard to the latter, the Netherlands has gradually strengthened its position over time.
Innovation management
According to Jan van den Ende, one remarkable conclusion that can be drawn from the figures is that the Netherlands’ performance in the field of innovation management is better than previously assumed.
Innovation management is about managing the process that allows you to convert knowledge into successful new products and services. Up till now, this stage was viewed as the Achilles heel of our country’s innovation process.
Positive signs
Van den Ende has been keeping track of the Netherlands’ performance on the European Innovation Scoreboard for more than a decade. In scientific terms, he says the European Innovation Scoreboard is of high quality, as it is based on data supplied by the European statistics directorate-general Eurostat. He identified a number of specific positive signs in this year’s European Innovation Scoreboard:
- The Netherlands publishes 40 per cent more cited articles in academic journals than the EU average.
- When it comes to collaborations between research institutes and the private sector in published research, the Netherlands scores twice as high as the EU average.
- The Netherlands submits a relatively high number of patent applications compared to the EU average.
- Over time, one can see a decline in the volume of venture capital investments in start-up enterprises based in Europe. This negative trend is less pronounced in the Netherlands.
- The percentage of SME businesses in the Netherlands that introduce innovations is higher than the European average.
Prof. Van den Ende concludes that while the Netherlands has consistently improved its performance over the years, people need to step up their game in terms of innovation management. Despite the high level of knowledge amassed in the Netherlands, many of these new insights remain ‘on the shelf’, without being implemented in practice. “This is a shame, because innovation remains the premier instrument for remaining competitive at the international level,” said the professor.