Dutch industry is indispensable not only to the (knowledge) economy but also to finding solutions for the scarcity issues that affect society, like energy, safety, care and mobility. This demands technological innovation in the production chain, innovation of products and processes in industry. TNO innovates with a view to transcending the chain and focusing on embedding industrial production in society as a whole.
Industry in the Netherlands steers economic development and also plays a key role in the societal themes we describe in this Strategic Plan. To tackle the challenges inside those theme areas, we need industry. But that industry is, in its turn, under considerable pressure from the economic crisis and the explosive economic development in countries like Brazil, Russia and China. So it is of utmost urgency that in Europe and the Netherlands a new position is determined in respect of the development of industry where labour productivity must increase and for which knowledge is crucial. By making effective use of and innovating knowledge, new industrial activities can be built up. Also in the industry that already exists, more intensive use must be made of knowledge. Because this can give industry a unique position.
This requires innovation efforts to focus on key areas and broad support for the social innovation agenda. The possibilities of the national and European markets can be better utilised for innovation, for instance by using the Dutch market as a field lab for innovations. New cluster policy and SME policy must strengthen each other. Knowledge workers of the future opt for lifelong learning and have to be given opportunities to this end. On these points particularly TNO wants to help industry and support government in the coming strategy period. Through technological innovations and by bringing stakeholders from different industry sectors together. The social transition to solar energy, for instance, demands not only cheaper, more efficient solar cells but also architectural innovations from architects and smart meters to resupply the energy to the grid.
