According to TNO, the Netherlands is in danger of falling behind in the field of AI

THE HAGUE (ANP) – The Netherlands invests too little in technological innovation and is therefore in danger of falling behind in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). TNO CEO Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi warns about this.

The Netherlands has invested several hundred million euros in AI in recent years, says Tjin-A-Tsoi. “If you compare that with other countries, it means little. Especially at a time when this technology is taking such a big flight, with such great opportunities and breakthroughs as now. It’s a race. And the gap with the rest is increasing. taller.”

TNO has been insisting for some time that the Netherlands invests too little money in knowledge and technology. “This market has become incredibly competitive in a short time, mainly due to the rise of the large tech groups. Countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have joined. Saudi Arabia is investing $40 billion in AI.”

Germany and Belgium

Major American tech companies Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet and Apple invest more individually in technological development than happens in the Netherlands as a whole, according to TNO. Compared to neighboring countries, things are not much better. Countries such as Germany and Belgium have invested much more in knowledge and development in recent years than the Netherlands. In 2022, expenditure in the Netherlands in this area amounted to 2.3 percent of gross domestic product, well below the EU target of 3 percent. In Germany the percentage is 3.1 percent and in Belgium 3.5 percent.

Yet the Netherlands still presents itself as a knowledge country. This is partly correct, says Tjin-A-Tsoi. “Our scientific research is among the top. It is just not enough to convert that knowledge into new successful companies. The large research institutions of Shell, Philips and DSM have largely disappeared. Successful tech companies such as ASML, NXP and VDL have emerged from them. A new generation has not yet presented itself.”

Self-righteous

The Netherlands may have become too complacent, the TNO CEO suggests. “The urgency is not felt, while it is very high. Dutch politics currently has very different priorities. There is a mood that is not really conducive to the investment climate.”

According to the TNO CEO, the Netherlands has entered a critical phase. “We must make a change now, otherwise it will be too late. If we want to keep the energy transition, aging population and healthcare affordable, we will have to innovate enormously. This will not be possible with current technology.”