Over 90% of Dutch citizens do not want to cut back on innovation
A broad-ranging survey among the Dutch population reveals that:
Over 90% of Dutch people do not want to economise on innovation;
More than 70% of the respondents believed that politicians focus too much on the short term, while investments in innovation lead to a flourishing economy and solutions for societal issues;
The NGF is regarded as an effective means of achieving this.
DELFT, 13 FEBRUARY 2024 – A broad-ranging survey among the Dutch population carried out by Kieskompas reveals, among other things, that over 90% of Dutch people do not want to economise on innovation. The survey about technology and innovation was commissioned by Quantum Delta NL, one of the technology ecosystems that has received funding from the National Growth Fund (Nationaal Groeifonds, NGF). The NGF is to be discussed on 15 February during a House of Representatives debate. The survey results also revealed that more than 70% of the respondents believed that politicians focus too much on the short term, while investments in innovation lead to a flourishing economy and solutions for societal issues. The NGF is regarded as an effective means of achieving this.
'Over 90% of Dutch people do not want to cut back on innovation.'
Through the National Growth Fund, the cabinet is investing €20 billion from 2021 to 2025 in projects that contribute to the Netherlands’ sustainable earning capacity. Various individuals and organizations, including TNO (the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research), VNO-NCW (the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers) and financial institutions, have previously highlighted the economic and societal importance of these investments. Specifically, innovation leads to the establishment of new companies and jobs and offers solutions for societal issues in areas such as agriculture, education, healthcare and climate. However, given the political shifts underway and the threat of budget cuts, the innovation community is concerned about the Netherlands’ continued existence as a technological leader. For this reason, PhotonDelta (also an NGF project) and Quantum Delta NL have started a joint petition that will be presented to the House of Representatives before the debate.
This latest survey by Kieskompas shows that the initiators are not alone in their views, but that there is broad support for retaining the National Growth Fund – not only among the innovation sector, but also throughout all sections of the population. Dutch people also believe that politicians are being far too short-sighted in their approach, while long-term economic growth is necessary for funding public services in the future. The vast majority of the respondents also believe that the government must play a supporting role in investments benefiting innovation. The establishment of the National Growth Fund, with a committee of experts who make strategic decisions separate from politics, aligns with this notion.
Quantum technology
The initiators emphasize that the Netherlands plays a leading role globally in areas such as quantum technology. Quantum Delta NL has successfully contributed to the development of more than 20 quantum companies, and in doing so, has created more than 650 direct jobs, along with 760 more in educational institutions. This serves as an example of an emerging sector that can make significant contributions to matters such as new jobs, clean fertilizers, improved data security, new medications and vaccines, solutions for logistics challenges, and new climate models.
