High tech industries in the Netherlands are among the most innovative in the world, thanks to state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge research and development. Dutch technological know-how and products are much sought-after and are exported worldwide.

Cross-overs in technology and collaboration
The Netherlands’ centuries-old tradition of creativity, pragmatism, entrepreneurship, openness and collaboration forms a perfect fit for the High-Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) sector. These qualities make the Netherlands the perfect place to find solutions to the challenges society is facing today in the areas of health and wellness, security, renewable energy, mobility and climate; solutions that, due to the complexity of the challenge, are primarily generated through cross-overs in technology and collaboration.

Rapid innovation and collaboration across the value chain is imperative in this highly competitive and highly complex sector and a well-functioning network (‘ecosystem’) of specialised companies and institutions is crucial to achieving this. These ‘ecosystems’ or centres-of-excellence are located around the country with perhaps the most significant being Brainport region Eindhoven, in the Southeast of the Netherlands – voted World’s Most Innovative Region, in 2015.

There are also strong concentrations of high-tech companies and universities in other parts of the Netherlands, such as around Twente and Delft. The high-tech sector includes a number of closely related industries including: the high-tech systems industries, automotive, aerospace and materials, including steel.