The Netherlands - Smart Industry

The Smart Industry (SI) initiative was launched in November 2014 by the government and industry stakeholders. The objectives are to strengthen the Dutch manufacturing industry position and increase industrial productivity. SI is structured around three main action lines that seeks to capitalise on existing knowledge, accelerate and introduce ICT in companies and strengthen knowledge, skills and ICT conditions.

These action lines are further covered by 14 specific action points. SI has a basis in the Smart Industry report and Smart Industry action plan from 2014 that defines and outlines action for the initiative. A programme office has been formed to coordinate and implement the initiative. SI has a basis in a complex funding model, that includes funding from the government, European regional funds and private financing and in-kind contributions.

SI has a background in well-built concepts centred on network centric production, developed by expert research and abroad set of stakeholders. SI complements existing Dutch industry policies and offers strengths in agenda-setting and tailored support activities at the regional-level, for example through field labs that take regional specialisation into account.

SI is run on a comparatively low budget and it has limited resources to fit its ambitious aspirations. Interest and in-kind contributions from industry have however helped to mitigate funding and resource challenges.