Research and development

Modest R&D expenditures from an international perspective

Dutch R&D expenditure is just 1.7 percent of GDP, which is rather modest from an international perspective. Roughly 60 percent of the difference with the average of other OECD countries can be accounted for by the structure of the sector in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a relatively large commercial services sector with an inherently limited R&D intensity. Additionally, the proportion of medium- and high-tech companies (these are enterprises with reasonably high R&D expenditures) in Dutch industry is relatively small.

Total R&D expenditures as percentage of GDP (2008)

Source: Eurostat, 2010.

Large innovative and knowledge-intensive enterprises
The keystones of the Dutch economy are solid and diversified. AKZO-Nobel, DSM, Philips, Royal Dutch/Shell and Unilever are five leading concerns that are active throughout the world and all with their roots in the Netherlands. The industrial sector is also closely interwoven with the commercial services sector.
Dutch industry boasts a large number of innovative and knowledge-intensive enterprises that have solid global reputations; this includes the aforementioned multinationals, which are all highly active in R&D. Furthermore, many foreign multinationals conduct R&D activities in the Netherlands.

Top 20 enterprises according to R&D expenditures in the Netherlands in 2009 x million euros

Source: Technisch Weekblad, 17 April 2010

Figures of expenditures of Shell in the Netherlands are not available

Top 20 centres of expertise and research institutes in the Netherlands
Sustainable economic development depends on a vital and innovative economy. The Dutch government endeavours to strengthen the nation’s economic position via a number of measures, including stimulating the apparatus of knowledge and innovation so that these two factors, when combined, provide solutions to societal issues and the development of new and improved products.  Public-private innovation programmes are the model of choice. Centres of expertise have an important role to play in this process. There are many renowned centres of expertise and research institutes in the Netherlands, such as TNO and ECN. The Netherlands is also well represented in academic circles: Eleven Dutch research universities are in the top 200 of the world's best universities (Times Higher Education Supplement 2009) and the Netherlands occupies the third place worldwide in citation impact scores (2003-2006)

Top 20 centres of expertise and research institutes in the Netherlands in 2010

Source: Technisch Weekblad, 17 April 2010

Dutch inventiveness
Triadic patents are patents that are registered in the United States, Europe and Japan. The Netherlands holds a high number of these types of patents and is ranked fifth worldwide. Patents are often the result of R&D activities. Successful R&D activities can result in improved productivity in the workplace and provide a clear advantage in the international arena. These types of R&D-related benefits are very important to the Dutch economy. Enterprises register patents in order to protect their newly developed knowledge. Patents, in turn, have a specified market value and they are an indicator of an economy’s regenerative capacity. The Netherlands’ ranking signifies that Dutch trade and industry is a desirable partner; one that is capable of innovation and revitalization.

Number of triadic patent applications x million people in the working population in 2006

Source: Statistics Netherlands 2010 (CBS)

NL EVD International has a global network of Science Attachés.

Please see www.twanetwerk.nl/ (Dutch-language only) for further information and locations of the offices worldwide.