€ 153 million extra for innovation in high tech sector  

Van der Hoeven says "now of all times, innovation must continue" 

09-03-2009 | press release | subjects: innovation programs | financial crisis

Minister Van der Hoeven from Economic Affairs makes 153 million available for Innovation
The money is reserved for the 2^nd phase of the high tech innovation program "Point One" (P1). Today, during the kickoff meeting for the 2^nd phase of the Point One program, in the Evoluon in Eindhoven, the minister called all interested parties to submit proposals as fast as possible. 

The extra money is intended to support (European) R&D projects, and projects with the goal of strengthening the innovation capacity of large businesses, SMEs and researchers. The 2^nd phase runs from 2009 to 2012. The amount of money is more than 184 million euro, which was already available during the period 2006 to 2011. 

During her speech, Van der Hoeven indicated that, as far as she is concerned, these are especially the times in which innovation must proceed undiminished. "Point One is a shining example of how high companies, knowledge institutions and governmental bodies can develop knowledge together, and through that, contribute to the solution of social questions. Now is the time to look beyond borders and together, keep building a strong international network for knowledge development and innovation. Now is the time that we also have to keep our knowledge workers. Only then can we come out of this crisis stronger than when we went in. I want to ensure therefore that nothing gets in the way of innovation in our country." 

Point One is the first innovation program from the Economic Affairs ministry that, in 2006, began with the framework of a programmatic innovation policy. Central to Point One is the maintenance and strengthening of the knowledge, and the value of that knowledge, in the area of nano-electronics, embedded systems, mechatronics and robotics, also called High Tech Systems. P1 has an open and transparent structure, in the form of an association with more than 100 members. 

The Dutch High Tech Systems sector is unique because of the presence of the whole production chain in the same country. Besides the Netherlands, only the United States and Japan have a similar situation at their disposal.

Ministry of Economic Affairs