Defence Takes Steps in Building Industry, Innovation, and Knowledge

An important result is the strategic partnership with VDL Group. The province of Limburg and VDL are respectively providing € 15 million and € 10 million for this. These investments are primarily intended for the development of a production location for Defence in Born.

Defence is also seeking a significant acceleration in expanding its capabilities to detect, track, and neutralize unwanted drones. This year, the organization will launch a so-called challenge for rapid anti-drone solutions. This is done in collaboration with Defport. Within this public-private platform, the ministries of Defence and Economic Affairs are working closely with industry, financial institutions, and knowledge institutes.

Defence is also taking steps to establish munitions production in the Netherlands. By the end of this year, the organization will approach the market to enable the production of safe drone munitions. Additionally, Defence is focusing on reusing materials from old munitions and collaborating with the chemical sector.

Defence is investing € 35 million together with Education, Culture, and Science for research into smart materials and quantum technology, among other things. The organization is also making it easier to collaborate with entrepreneurs by building a national network of regional innovation collaborations, coordinated by Orchestrating Defence Innovation (ODIN).

According to the officials, all these actions contribute to reducing dependence on foreign countries and achieving more strategic autonomy. Knowledge development is the foundation for the further development and innovation of the armed forces.

The plans stem from the Defence Strategy for Industry and Innovation. The focus is on strong, aiming for a broad industrial base. Furthermore, the strategy revolves around smart, targeting the 5 areas in which the Netherlands wants to excel: intelligent systems, space technology, sensors, smart materials, and quantum. Additionally, it is about together. Because only together with partners can Defence achieve these goals.