KIVI formation letter 2021

Technology is of great importance for many government policy areas and for society. This is why KIVI has sent recommendations for the cabinet formation to the informateur and all group chairmen

The Hague, 7 April 2021

The Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI) has members with extensive and up-to-date knowledge and expertise in almost every policy area. Our Council for Science, Technology and Society (RWTM) has drawn up recommendations for the coalition agreement with input from a large number of our 18,000 members. Independent, objective and knowledgeable.

The recommendations cover a variety of topics at the national policy level. Many of these topics will come up during the negotiations for a new coalition agreement. The technological interpretation of our experts can strengthen the factual basis of decisions. Not from a political perspective, but from the possibilities and limitations offered by technology.

In the appendix you will find recommendations for general and specific policy areas: 'lessons from the corona crisis', BZK, Defence, EZK-Energy Transition, EZK-Kernenergie, I&W/Sustainable Society, I&W/Rail Transport, LNV, OC&W, VWS and General Government.

Read all recommendations below or download a PDF via this link

For more infomation, please contact Jan Wind, main board member and chairman of the RWTM (E: jan.wind@kivi.nl)
Are you a KIVI member and would you also like to help with recommendations to politicians? Then contact your departmental board

I. Crisis management - Lessons from the coronacrisis

The corona crisis made it clear that improvements can be made to solve major crises on a national scale. The corona approach is keeping a lot of spirits up, as we were insufficiently prepared and insufficiently agile. Ad hoc measures had to be taken unprepared, such as the deployment of the special envoy for test equipment, software specialists, buyers, logistics specialists, Defence, etc. Due to its ad hoc nature, cooperation was a goal, but it constantly chafed.

1. Identify and appoint a 'dormant' top team that, in the next crisis, can immediately support the government and collaborate effectively on a solution.
   Under crisis conditions, different capacities and knowledge are needed in a ministry and executive agencies than in normal ones. Despite very good intentions, suboptimal choices were regularly made, while there is ample knowledge and experience in the Netherlands. On a number of subjects, the Defence organisation has a lot of knowledge and capacity that is weakly available elsewhere. A heterogeneously composed, but 'dormant' crisis management team with experts from different disciplines could quickly and effectively support the government in future crises. A kind of reservist team for the national administration that can coordinate and direct. By practising regularly and optimising the composition, team members can be in tune with each other even before the crisis breaks out. This is more effective than the ad hoc appointment of 'envoys'
   
2. Develop adapted procurement rules for crisis conditions and provide training to buyers.
   Standard procedures and legal requirements have greatly complicated and delayed crisis management. Very good for the fair treatment of business, but disastrous in a crisis. Things went wrong in the appathon, vaccine purchases, test lines, mouthpiece purchases, etc. It is therefore desirable to train smart negotiators and develop contract forms that do not take much time. Even in times of a 'cowboy market'. The adapted rules can be put into force temporarily during a crisis through a government decree, which can be subject to parliamentary review afterwards
   
3. Organise and mandate central coordination and direction if necessary
   22 independent GGDs and hundreds of independent hospitals might be very effective in normal times. After all, mutual competition and decentralised powers promote efficient operations. When implementing large technical projects, the experience is that in crises the possibility of central control is important.If something unexpected happens, quick action may be necessary. Sometimes also against the perceived interest of one of the parties. Therefore, legislate which organisations must follow instructions in crisis conditions in order to increase the clout of all organisations together
   
4. Before and during crises, deploy risk management methods from large technical projects, such as scenario analysis and simulations. Prepare and practice this.
   Preparing one scenario and one static choice, for example, is not acceptable in large projects such as the Delta Programme and other multi-year infrastructure and transport investments. So why should we do so in our public health?
   Deploy scenario analysis to account for uncertainties. Prepare various development paths and possible scenarios, so that if an anticipated risk occurs you don't start thinking and negotiating only then. Preparation also means thinking through the "what ifs", securing implementation of the "what ifs" (e.g. supply of vaccines), so that you are not surprised every time something changes.

II. Interior and Kingdom Relations

1. Encourage and facilitate conversion of offices into housing
   The corona crisis is accelerating the shift from working in offices and meeting on location to a new balance between office-based and digital working. A new hybrid form of working is going to lead to a large surplus of office space. These can be converted into housing and contribute to rapidly reducing the large shortage of them. The shortage of suitable housing is further exacerbated by the fact that people also structurally have to work from home. Not all housing is suitable for this.
   It is desirable to encourage municipalities to adapt zoning plans. However, a financial incentive can also be important to initiate conversion and rezoning
   
2. Enable electronic voting.
   The complexity and laboriousness of manual voting in the Netherlands is great. Not least because of the ever-increasing number of parties competing in elections. It costs a lot of time, manpower and frustration.
   Modern ICT offers sufficient technical possibilities that allow electronic voting to be at least as safe as voting with the red pencil. In a polling station and also online. Many experts believe it cannot be done, but a lot is technically possible. Therefore, let electronic voting be seriously investigated in the coming cabinet period and realised where possible. Online or at the polling station. To make the switch easier, this can be realised on a voluntary basis. Just like in Estonia.
   An open and transparent development process as carried out with the CoronaMelder App has proven that it can dispel doubts even among the most sensitive privacy experts.

III. Defence

Security and stability of our country and the world is essential for a healthy and sustainable economy. However, the world around us is becoming increasingly unsafe. Threats to our prosperity are slowly building up and the risks are increasing. The importance of good Defence is increasing. Technology is a decisive factor here. After all, more than 50% of the budget is spent on equipment, 20-30% on investments and 2% on R&D.

1. Prepare the Netherlands for intensified European cooperation. Retain companies of vital importance to the Netherlands and encourage companies that can excel in Europe.
   Various national and international developments suggest that European cooperation will increase in the coming years. Outgoing minister Bijleveld's Defence Vision 2035 also recognises this. The pursuit of European strategic autonomy and the European Defence Fund (EDF) are examples. A trend towards task specialisation and joint defence projects is emerging. The Netherlands should prepare for this.
   The European perspective of defence companies should be one of the parameters in this. Technology areas in which the Netherlands can excel are artificial intelligence, big-data analysis, quantum technology, connected training and simulation, robotics.However, this should not be at the expense of companies that are vital in crisis conditions.
   The Defence Industry Strategy (DIS) should be adapted to this new reality
   
2. Reduce the pressure on the budget through a more economically effective form of financing for investments. Use knowledge from the financial sector to do so.
   A new coalition agreement will put pressure on the budget due to the effects of the corona crisis. Necessary investments for Defence will be even more compromised as a result, while maintenance, supply and personnel costs will also continue to be severely lacking. Defence now pays large investments in cash on delivery. This is unusual in the economy. Pension funds and local governments see opportunities to make large defence investments more financially and economically efficient. Without compromising military interests. This can be read in the FD's Fund News of 4 February 2021, among others. Implement the Oct 30, 2019 Belhaj motion using financial sector knowledge and commit to pay as you go
   
3. Maintain the self-creating ability and vital military-technical knowledge of Dutch naval construction. Also for submarines.
   The replacement of the submarines is the biggest project that Defence has to decide on next year. The investment amount is around EUR 3.5 billion and there are major international interests. The military-technical knowledge required for this construction is of great importance for national security and has economic advantages in future European cooperation and exports.
   A tender procedure is currently under way with three parties. While the must have a significant part of the work carried out in the Netherlands, the military-technical content differs widely from supply of components to complex system design.
   Since the delivery of the first submarine at De Schelde in 1906, TNO, MARIN and the Royal Netherlands Navy, together with industry, have accumulated 115 years of knowledge and experience in weapon system technology and system integration. This knowledge is undisputedly unique in the world and vital for effective deployment of Dutch submarines.
   We wrote about this earlier and MPs Stoffer and Van Helvert tabled motions on this subject which were adopted by a large majority. Implement these motions.

IV. Economic Affairs and Climate (1) - Energy transition

Energy transition is the main pillar of the Climate Agreement. Ambitious targets have been set for 2030 to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Decide on energy transition on the basis of reliable information. Set up a multidisciplinary validation team, committee or council to advise on decision-making.
   With less than 10 years to go, the Netherlands faces a formidable task. Many technological solutions are available and under development. In recent years, however, the debate on the energy transition has become polarised. Supporters and opponents of a particular technology use 'alternative facts', 'framing' and 'cherry picking' to reinforce their views. Virtually all options that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions are affected. This severely compromises support; a key condition for the success of the energy transition. Objective, independent and factually accurate information is of great importance in determining policy
   
2. Invest extra in training of professionals with a focus on energy transition.
   The realisation of energy transition requires many experts. The lack of sufficient expert staff throughout the chain is one of the biggest challenges in the energy transition. Invest in an ecosystem where (practical) education, business and knowledge institutions jointly train professionals for the jobs of the future and the opportunities offered by the digital energy transition
   
3. Take the director's role in realising the required energy infrastructure.
   Following the recommendations of the Taskforce Infrastructure Climate Agreement Industry, the government should take on the director's role for the realisation of required infrastructure. There is now a lot of fragmentation, little overview and local interests play a major role. Central coordination and brings overview and logic to planning. For example, in the placement of wind turbines, solar farms and data centres.
   The proposed director's role applies to electricity as well as (new) gases, hydropower, hydrogen, CO2 and heat as well as short- and long-term energy storage. Above ground and underground.

V. Economic Affairs and Climate (2) - Nuclear energy

It is not certain that sufficient energy can be generated from solar and wind alone. Possible risks include disappointing investments and resistance to offshore wind turbines and solar farms, disappointing implementation of heat pumps, etc. We therefore believe that other reprocessing methods besides solar and wind should be investigated. We are thinking of nuclear power, geothermal heat and bioenergy, among others.

1. Investigate the possibilities and usefulness of nuclear energy in the energy transition.
   The transition to a completely CO2-free energy supply in 2050 is complex and full of uncertainties in terms of security of supply, spatial planning, economy and competitiveness vis-à-vis foreign countries. Decisions on this should include all CO2-free options, including nuclear power. Modern nuclear power plants are low-CO2, environmentally friendly and safe. They also emit far less particulate matter than other power plants, which benefits citizens' health
   
2. Focus on the local recovery and reuse of residual energy and abandon heat networks.
   Because of the limited thermal efficiency of nuclear power plants (about 30%) and the negative effect of transporting the residual heat to the sea, it is advisable to investigate and stimulate the local beneficial reuse of the released residual heat.
   Construction of heat networks and transport of heat over longer distances is not recommended because of negative experiences in the past, such as transporting heat from the port of Rotterdam to homes in the municipality of Leiden
   
3. Keep Borssele nuclear power plant open beyond 2033.
   In 2018, Borssele nuclear power plant generated 16% of all CO2-free electricity in the Netherlands. Extending the operation gives a significant reduction in Dutch CO2 footprint until the year 2050. However, this will require the removal of closure on 31 December 2033 from the Nuclear Energy Act
   
4. Strengthen the nuclear knowledge infrastructure.
   To enable the above two topics, it is necessary that the national government supports the nuclear knowledge infrastructure in its breadth (MBO/HBO/University/Vocational Education). In particular, the knowledge infrastructure at TU Delft should be strengthened by expanding the number of nuclear technology chairs.

VI. Infrastructure and Water Management (1) - Sustainable circular society

1. Lift legal barriers to the application of innovative circular technologies.
   Processing 'waste' such as nitrogen and phosphate, for example, is not possible now. Only after obtaining 'end-of-waste' status is reuse as a raw material allowed. Obtaining that status under the Waste Framework Directive is a (too) long and costly process. For several waste streams, it is even impossible. For example, for phosphate, nutrients, secondary raw materials from manure streams and sewage. However, the legal barriers make no technical sense because waste is assessed on its origin and not on its actual composition and quality. This makes it much more expensive or impossible to use waste streams in a circular way
   
2. Encourage thermal and chemical recycling of plastics. Also at European level.
   Environmental consultancy CE Delft calculated in 2019 that only 40% of plastic waste in the Netherlands is recycled. The remaining waste is sold to Asian countries, incinerated or disappears into the environment. In the Netherlands, "mechanical" recycling techniques are now mostly used. These can by no means process all types of plastic waste. Physical and chemical technologies have now been developed but the business case is not yet always favourable. Encouraging these technologies can significantly improve plastic waste recycling
   
3. Encourage residual stream processing solutions from desalination plants.
   Evaporators, reverse osmosis plants and other desalination technologies produce brine (so-called brown streams) as waste in addition to fresh water as a product. The demand for fresh water is increasing and so is the popularity of desalination technologies, but cost-effective solutions for the remaining concentrated salt streams are still insufficient, especially for the more small-scale industry
   
4. Encourage biobased chemistry from biomass more at national level
   Much more is possible with biomass than making biofuel. The European Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda SIRA describes value chains for chemicals, materials, ingredients for food (human and animal) and fuel. Lack of funding means that only a few demonstration and full-scale biobased projects are carried out in the Netherlands. The biobased agenda is mostly pulled at the european level through the BBI JU, but the Dutch government needs to support more locally. In Ireland, for example, a dairy producer is going to make large-scale bioplastic from whey to make its packaging more sustainable. This is also possible in the Netherlands. After all, we are third in dairy consumption per capita
   
5. Encourage the extraction and use of proteins from residual products
   These technologies can make an important contribution to achieving the goals of the climate agreement. See among others the Dutch transition agenda biomass page 37. Reusing proteins reduces the protein footprint, which must be reduced by 50% by 2050. Many protein sources are still underused, such as potato peels, green pea skins, insects, bacteria, fungi, grass clippings, etc
   
6. Ensure a robust drinking water system through the call 'Water connects'.
   We support this call by drinking water companies and the Union of Water Boards for a transition to a climate-robust water system to prevent the adverse effects of drought. The aim is to build up sufficient physical (ground) water reserves to meet current and future drinking water demand. In addition, the aim is to build up sufficient financial reserves from the drinking water and wastewater tariffs to finance future investments in water infrastructure.

VII. Infrastructure and Water Management (2) - Infrastructure for sustainable rail transport

The Netherlands has a number of significant and industry-wide challenges to meet the agreed targets of 30% more passengers and freight. The current expectation is that after 2025 rail transport will resume strong growth. It is therefore important to remove barriers to rail growth.
To make this possible, a number of government-wide intentions are key:

1. Give the rail management system ERTMS an extra boost and acceleration
   The European train protection system ERTMS is needed to gain capacity on the network by safely allowing trains to run in shorter intervals. It is also a prerequisite for Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and allows normal train services to resume more quickly, increasing reliability.
   Therefore, ensure that all rolling stock is first made suitable at an accelerated pace and then the rail infrastructure, starting with the busiest lines, at a faster pace, to avoid gridlock before 2030.
   EUR 2.5 billion has already been set aside for this purpose until 2030 in I&W's Multi-Year Programme for Infrastructure, Spatial Planning and Transport (MIRT), but accelerating the pace of implementation is necessary
   
2. Strengthen power supply on the railways
   With a desired higher frequency and speed of trains, especially on the core network, our current power system with a voltage of 1500 Volts is no longer adequate.
   A relatively simple and quick solution requiring little modification is to apply 3000 Volts, as also done in Belgium and parts of France. Start the project for this conversion in track and rolling stock so that trains can run faster and more frequently.
   The cost of this has been estimated at €2 billion. These have not yet been included in the multi-year budget/MIRT due to conflicting interests in the market
   
3. Ensure timely replacement and improvement of infrastructure to future requirements
   For years, too little has been invested in replacement and improvement of infrastructure, far less than what is calculated to be needed. As a result, a considerable backlog has built up.
   Of the necessary track renewals, only half are put out to tender. For example, the track bodies on which the track lies were often built more than 100 years ago. They are increasingly inadequate and are subsiding more, resulting in sharply rising maintenance costs. Make a multi-year plan to catch up these backlogs, using modern techniques. This catch-up demand has been estimated at around €1 billion. It has not yet been included in the multiannual budget/MIRT.
   Similar issues apply to other infrastructure, such as roads and waterways. The Ministers of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and I&W sent a letter to the House of Representatives on this in late 2020.

VII. Agriculture, nature and food quality

Interest in the environment, food, energy, climate and health has increased in recent years. The urgency to deal differently with issues such as our nature, agriculture and animal husbandry, energy and our food is becoming increasingly clear. But the transition to a future-proof society is moving too slowly. The question of what, how and with what those changes should take place has not been and is not yet recognised strongly enough. And time is running out.

To really initiate the transition to a future-proof society in the coming cabinet period, the following points are essential to include in the coalition agreement:

1. Specifically encourage the transition to climate-neutral food production
   The ambition based on the climate agreement is that the agriculture and horticulture sector will also operate climate-neutrally by 2050. This can be achieved by applying innovative methods and technology that greatly reduce methane and nitrogen emissions, as well as energy consumption by agriculture and horticulture. In doing so, it is also important to sequester carbon dioxide in the soil and nature
   
2. Encourage circular agriculture
   Circular agriculture means that all substances taken out of an area by agriculture are also returned to the area. The transition from the current linear farming system to a sustainable circular farming system should be encouraged, including through the use of new technologies. This will, for instance, make it possible to make better use of all residual flows, thus reducing the loss of pollutants to air and water. Also, the processing of vegetable raw materials for food production can be optimised through the use of high-quality technology. For circular agriculture, it is inevitable that we switch to a sustainable diet on a predominantly vegetable basis, where that technology can be applied for the production of new protein-rich foods
   
3. Towards a sustainable and healthy diet
   A large number of cases of chronic disease are directly or indirectly linked to unfavourable nutrition, mainly in the form of overnutrition. Overnutrition is placing an increasing burden on our health and hence our health system. The current pandemic of obesity cannot be separated from our current system of food production. The transition to a sustainable food production system should be linked to a transition to a healthier diet
   
4. Encourage attention to soil life
   Implement management of green areas by using nature-friendly solutions such as grazing of dykes by sheep. Through municipalities, commit to greening the environment. Not only in public areas but also in private areas and linked to awareness on climate change and the need for soil life.

IX. Education, culture and science

Knowledge is of paramount importance to our society, now and in the future. Not only to formulate good policy, but also to enable companies and many other organisations to remain effective and competitive. In the Netherlands, Europe and worldwide.

1. Maintains our knowledge infrastructure and (inter)national knowledge position
   Scientific research and innovation remain of great importance to stimulate our economy and keep it competitive. Cuts resulting from the corona crisis are counterproductive in this respect.
   The national knowledge infrastructure must be brought back to a sufficient level to remain internationally competitive (comparable, for example, to Germany's commitment to 3.5% of their GDP for research and innovation by 2025)
   
2. Encourage lifelong learning programmes and actively align with the European Skills agenda
   Keeping knowledge up to standard is crucial to maintain broad prosperity due to rapid technological developments. Also in the Netherlands. We recommend active participation in the European Skills agenda to maintain and, if possible, strengthen the competitive position in technological knowledge. Lifelong learning programmes are of great importance in this respect in today's society. Also for engineers
   
3. Deploy targeted online education to reduce pressure on staff and strengthen individual attention.
   We learn from the corona crisis that online education offers opportunities. Not always and continuously, but in multiple settings, online education can reduce pressure on staff. For example, large lecture classes in higher education and standard classes in secondary education. However, the quality of education should not suffer
   
4. Link technological research to engineering education at all levels.
   Linking research to education will ensure training for the technology of the future. This link should be made not only at the scientific level but also at the college and MBO level, because our society needs technologically educated people at all levels to maintain our broad prosperity.

X. Public Health, Welfare and Sport

1. Equip some disaster hospitals with staff in a flexible shell
   The load capacity of healthcare hospitals is already under pressure under normal circumstances. The corona crisis taught that the extra care needed can only be provided if regular care is scaled down and postponed, while even then there is a risk of catastrophic shortages. Moreover, deferred care leads to undiagnosed diseases that later lead to additional suffering or efforts. However, the limitation is not only in resources but also in people.
   An emergency hospital can be set up more efficiently than a general hospital where all care tasks have to be performed simultaneously. In normal times, it can remain closed and preserved. Staff could come from a flexible shell around regular hospitals, or through a structure of reservists like in Defence.
   Examples already exist: the Netherlands has had the Defence, VWS and UMC Utrecht disaster hospitals for many years. The UK has set up 12 'Nightingale hospitals'
   
2. Make structural and targeted investments in knowledge development, R&D and infrastructure necessary to maintain innovation and production of strategic medical technology, devices and medicines in the Netherlands.
   The closure of factories in China and India as a result of the COVID-19 crisis painfully exposed how dependent we are on producing countries. Partly because of this, a shortage of medical devices, technology and raw materials for medicines developed early in the crisis. International production chains are efficient but also make us vulnerable. In the middle of the corona crisis, China threatened to stop supplying medical devices because of the name change of the Netherlands Office in Taipei. The market for simple devices such as mouth caps hardened and was defined by cowboy behaviour.
   The Netherlands has an extensive knowledge and innovation ecosystem with knowledge institutions, multinationals, SMEs and suppliers. Commit to a structured approach that mobilises and deploys this ecosystem to bring essential parts of innovation and production back to the Netherlands.
   This requires a central vision for the development of knowledge and skills on production but also a potential calamity-focused vision on procurement policy
   
3. Encourage the realisation of the new Pallas reactor in Petten.
   Application of medical radioisotopes is of great importance worldwide. The Netherlands is a world leader in the production, application and knowledge of medical radioisotopes. To maintain its position and in the interest of many patients, the realisation of the new Pallas reactor at Petten is urgent. To meet the global demand for medical isotopes, even then the current High Flux Reactor will have to be available for another decade or so.

XI. General management - use of knowledge in management

Effective governance of our country requires excellent knowledge in many fields. General HBO or WO level of work and thinking is no longer sufficient.

1. Select and appoint ministers and state secretaries with good substantive knowledge and experience in the relevant policy area.
   Debate skills, eloquence and historical awareness are important qualities in political debate. Sometimes, however, these are not sufficiently effective for the proper ordering of society. With subject ministers and state secretaries, it is all about content and administrative skills. Knowledge and experience in the field and developments in the relevant sector of society is indispensable to lead a ministry. In recent years, many incidents, failed policies and capital destruction have been caused by lack of knowledge and experience in all kinds of fields. Technological, economic and managerial. Therefore, look for ministers and state secretaries who, in addition to political and debating skills, above all have knowledge and experience in the relevant policy area. This is certainly not primarily engineers, but in a number of ministries an exact background is certainly important
   
2. Substantive knowledge and experience should be leading in civil servant appointments to key positions in ministries and executive bodies.
   The top civil servants have a clear responsibility for policy. Both policy preparation and implementation require long-term accumulated knowledge and experience in the field to avoid mistakes and failures. That this can also lead to political failures we have seen in recent years. In a good management team there is a mix of disciplines, including people with a STEM background.
   In some line ministries, sound knowledge of technology is obvious, in others it can also be medical, economic or international-political knowledge. Due to the rapid development of technology and application of technical devices to the capillaries of society, we do recommend that knowledge of relevant technology at top official level be included in all ministries
   
3. Verify decisions for actual technical and effective implementability.
   As engineers, we limit ourselves to technology-related policies. It regularly happens that decisions turn out to be not feasible or do not have the intended effect. Development of software and so-called algorithms based on artificial intelligence are the best-known examples, but the A73 tunnel near Roermond also belonged to this category. Nevertheless, software, algorithms and tunnels are necessary in the future.
   It is necessary to strengthen the level of knowledge at ministries and, if this is really not possible, to obtain independent and expert technical-scientific advice, e.g. from TNO, RIVM, Deltares. The results of this advice should then be respected and not subordinated to political considerations.

Photo: Wikimedia Netherlands