A few weeks ago, the IPCompany had the Symposium on Innovation and Research for Defence at the Frederiks kazerne in The Hague. Thanks to the extra resources announced in the Ministry of Defence’s policy document “Implementation Agenda for Innovation and Research,” more companies can now get involved in this crucial sector.
We discussed important topics like Defence’s technology development strategy and innovation centers. We also talked about funding options available through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland). The State Secretary of Defence, Christophe van der Maat, stressed the urgency of innovation during his presence at the event. Our world is becoming more complex with increasing conflicts and technological competition.
This calls for a different and more innovative approach. State Secretary van der Maat emphasized the essential role of collaborating with the business sector in achieving this. Making informed choices, especially at the European level, is necessary for successful innovation. This way, we can fully utilize our “added value” in Europe.
During the event, the State Secretary encouraged questions from the audience, leading to a productive and in-depth discussion.
