The Ministry of Defense is investing heavily in new technologies. State Secretary Gijs Tuinman and regional development agencies (ROMs), provinces, and companies have signed a letter of intent to jointly strengthen the innovation capacity of Defense.
Deputy Esther Rommel signed the agreement on behalf of the Province of North Holland.
An important focus of Defense is so-called dual-use solutions: products and services that can be used both civilly and militarily. Innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in this and contribute to the safety, independence, and economic strength of the Netherlands.
Smart Solutions
The goal of the letter of intent is to find new solutions in the region that help Defense innovate faster. Think of smart materials, maintenance techniques, ICT, artificial intelligence, anti-jamming technology (against wireless communication disruption), and advanced drones for automatic map production.
Defense and ROMs, including ROM InWest, support companies with, among other things, risk capital (via the SecFund), innovation hubs, and trade missions to, among others, Riga and the US. In some regions, Defense is also an important employer and a driver of the local economy.
Latest Developments
The official signing of the LOI took place during the Purple Nectar Event 2025 in Nijkerk. This annual knowledge and innovation event of Defense focuses on sharing the latest technological developments and applications that contribute to an agile and future-proof armed forces.
