In November 2022, the previous government published its Digital Economy Strategy setting out its ambitions and targets until 2030. The strategy was based on five pillars with specific targets that were aligned with the country’s aim to be a leader in the digital transition. The current government is pursuing the strategy in its original form.
In the first week of March, minister Beljaarts submitted the government’s progress report to the House of Representatives. This report detailed the progress made to achieve the targets in the five Digital Economy pillars as at the end of 2024. The progress report therefore does not include developments in 2025.
The pillars are as follows:
- Accelerating the digital transformation of SMEs
- Stimulating digital innovation and increasing the number of digital experts
- Creating the right conditions for effective digital markets and services
- Maintaining and strengthening a high-quality, resilient digital infrastructure
- Improving cybersecurity
A range of digital strategies
The Digital Economy Strategy is closely linked to the National Technology Strategy (beginning of 2024) and the Netherlands Cybersecurity Strategy (October 2022 ). These strategies also partly overlap with government-wide digital transformation policies. An overarching, government-led Dutch Digitalisation Strategy is currently being developed under the coordination of Zsolt Szabó, the State Secretary for Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations. This strategy is expected to be published in Q2 2025. Being strongly aligned with the targets in the European Commission’s Digital Decade policy programme and its priorities, the Dutch Digital Economy Strategy and digital economy policy will also be greatly affected by EU policy.
Key takeaways
The progress report on the Digital Economy Strategy highlights improvements in the digitalisation of SMEs, the use of digital innovations and the quality of digital infrastructure. At the same time, the report raises concerns about the significant shortage of digital experts, delayed private investments in digital infrastructure and the pace of transformation, which is too slow to maintain the country’s leading position.
The Digital Economy Strategy strives to create a resilient, prosperous, innovative and inclusive digital economy in 2023. Key to achieving this goal are the development and application of innovative digital technologies alongside the ability to harness groundbreaking computing power, quantum computers, AI and super-fast 6G networks moving forward. To address this challenge, Topsector ICT is stimulating Digital and Information Technologies in the National Technology Strategy (NTS) while leveraging the power of public-private partnerships.
Input from Topsector ICT
In an interview in the progress report, Frits Grotenhuis, director of Topsector ICT, stated that Topsector ICT had stimulated increased public-private partnerships over the years with a view to develop and apply digital and information technologies. "These partnerships were a springboard for new research and innovation programmes in a range of areas, enabling us and our partners to make significant progress together."
One of Topsector ICT’s spearheads is to stimulate innovation in digital and information technologies. "Over the coming years, we intend to use the grant instruments available to us to invest in knowledge and innovation, led by this Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (KIA) Digitalisation. We’ll be working together with the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and organisations from the federation of Dutch applied research institutes (TO2), as well as coalitions, other top sectors and government ministries", explains Grotenhuis.
Collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
Close collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs in areas including policy development, instruments and public-private partnerships is essential in achieving the strategy’s goals for digital transformation and the digital economy. SMEs will also be a key partner in innovative partnerships. Under Grotenhuis’s leadership, Topsector ICT will be using various mutually reinforcing grant instruments, such as the Strategic Trade Fairs Programme (SBP) and the SME Innovation Stimulus for Regional and Top Sectors (MIT), and strengthening regional SME networks in this regard.
Opportunities and challenges
Topsector ICT has identified several major opportunities and challenges over the next years. In terms of opportunities, there is a need for continued investment in research and innovation in AI/Data and Cybersecurity Technologies alongside areas such as digital twins and digital product passports (DPP). The challenges consist of labour and skills shortages and growing cybersecurity threats.
These problems require a European solution, says Grotenhuis. "It’s important that the Netherlands remains a leader in digital technologies and governance in Europe, as the place that produces leading agreements and sets global standards for growth markets. We must strive to take charge and have a seat at the table, otherwise we risk being left behind."
Read the progress report on the Digital Economy Strategy (Dutch)