Our Council for Science, Technology and Society (RWTM) analyses current political developments in the Netherlands. It provides independent facts and interpretation from the technological knowledge and experience of engineers.
The RWTM has the following comments and questions on the Rutte IV Cabinet's coalition agreement. These have been drawn up on the basis of publicly available documents, as well as knowledge and experience of RWTM members and our specialised departments. The comments and questions concern technological or related aspects only.
Page 2 - appointment of top officials
The new government envisages requiring domain-specific expertise in the appointment of top officials of the General Administration Department (ABD). However, this knowledge requirement should not be limited to the ABD but is also important for ministers and other civil servants.
Page 6 - Climate policy implementation
A Minister for Climate and Energy and a scientific advisory board can take the necessary direction to realise the necessary infrastructure and assess decision-making on facts. 55% reduction in within 8-9 years is a big challenge. The additional commitment to 70% by 2035 and 80% by 2040 is even more technically challenging if possible. It is important that the Minister for Climate and Energy quickly set up a robust organisation to calculate the assessment and effectiveness of proposals.
In addition, this market is highly polarised and has many supporters and opponents of certain solutions, making the debate difficult. It is important for the new minister to organise broad support for the implementation of controversial measures.
Page 6 - Climate policy on professionals and Page 21 - Higher education.
The importance of technical education will be increased by the new government. The Amhaouch 35925 XIII 38 motion of 4 November 2021 also pointed in this direction. However, the longer study duration and limited scholarship opportunities hinder potential students from choosing this study. Perhaps expanded scholarship opportunities could increase the attractiveness of engineering studies.
Page 8 - Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy has great and positive attention in the coalition agreement. However, it is unclear why 2 new nuclear power plants are targeted and not the generated power for which a larger or smaller number of plants can be built? Application of small modular reactors could also be considered in this respect.
Furthermore, it is not clear what the new government's position is on the European Union's intention to declare nuclear energy "green", paving the way for a larger share of nuclear energy in the energy mix?
In addition to the announced cooperation with market players, it might also be important to involve regional, local and civil society organisations in the planning.
Page 8 - Gas extraction in Groningen
The new cabinet is committed to phasing out gas extraction in Groningen as soon as possible. However, there are still large reserves available there. Moreover, the earthquakes in Groningen are not caused by gas extraction, but by the lack of counter-pressure. It is therefore important to maintain the technical possibility of still extracting available gas. For instance, for emergencies. Possibly, the Groningen gas field could even be used for the Dutch "gas roundabout" to store imported gas (orCO2). Additional storage could reduce earthquakes.
Pag.11 - Nitrogen crisis
The government will push for nitrogen reduction in the European context. It is unclear whether the Dutch nitrogen reduction requirements will be based on European directives, or does the government want the strict Dutch directives to also be declared European in force? Perhaps the government could align Dutch nitrogen rules with those in other European countries. That could reduce the pressure for a solution in our country.
Pages 16 and 30 - Cybercrime.
A multi-year cybersecurity approach by improving detection and strengthening expertise in enforcement is definitely needed. But perhaps cyber security can also be enhanced by imposing cyber-prevention requirements on businesses and citizens. An enforceable obligation to keep cyber security in order is at least as effective as detection and enforcement.
Page 28 - Manufacturing industry.
The government is going to stimulate a manufacturing industry with a clear strategy. However, this industry - and certainly the large OEMs - has largely left the Netherlands in recent years. We are curious whether the intention is indeed to encourage (re)establishment (reshoring) and retention of large technological manufacturing companies and, where possible, to bring them back to the Netherlands. Such as car and aircraft manufacturers and other companies that produce complete products and capital goods.
With this policy, the new government's vision on the future of the Dutch manufacturing industry in the context of Smart Industry, or 'Industrie 4.0' (i.e. the digitalisation of the manufacturing industry) is insufficiently clear.
Page 28 - Public-private partnerships in the field of knowledge and innovation.
Targeted stimulation of government-funded projects give a good impulse to technology development and innovation. It is important here to stimulate development at prototype and product level in addition to scientific research at fundamental and conceptual level. Moreover, further fragmentation of funding streams for knowledge development and innovation should be avoided.
Besides government subsidies, the new government could also apply guarantee schemes in these public-private partnerships to involve market parties in situations where there is still too much risk for private funding.
Pag.30 - Market power and data power of large tech companies
Combating excessive dominance of large foreign tech companies in a European context is good for strengthening European strategic autonomy. Besides repressive action, the new government could also consider encouraging the development of competitive large tech companies, platforms and a stable legal environment and investment climate in Europe.
Pag.32 - Pandemic preparedness and crisis management in general
The corona crisis showed that crisis management in the Netherlands is well organised in many respects, but also that a number of important improvements are needed. Crisis management should be permanently strengthened. Not only for pandemics, but we should also be resilient to other crises. To this end, it is important to deploy multidisciplinary crisis management methods and strengthen coordination between policy areas, as well as make available flexible facilities and multidisciplinary knowledge and resources.
Page 33 - Health system
In addition to the aforementioned plans, stimulating healthcare support through automation and medical technology is important. This will, among other things, reduce routine and administrative work by healthcare personnel and allow more time to be spent on human interaction. An ageing population reinforces the importance of such a policy.
Pag.37 - European strategic autonomy, pg.30 - Digitalisation and pg.39 - Defence
When deploying efforts to strengthen the innovative power and industry in a European context, it is important to align the relevant sector at home with it. If necessary through regulation and stimulation. Only then will Dutch companies and citizens benefit from European regulations and incentive programmes .
Pag.38 - Defence budget
The intensification of spending on Defence can certainly be called positive. It is not indicated whether this increased budget is sufficient to put the base in order and whether, in addition, enough money remains for necessary investments in new modern equipment.
It is also unclear whether the requirements and procurement organisations and their procedures are sufficiently equipped to place the large number of required orders within a reasonable time frame and quality.
Pag.40 - Contributing to UN SDGs through OS policy
The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) have much greater relevance than just Development Cooperation. From their nature and content, these goals are equally applicable to the Netherlands and Europe. It is unclear how the new government outside the framework of Development Cooperation will pay attention to the UN SDGs and what role they will play in technology development and innovation policy.
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The Hague, 10 January 2022
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Disclaimer: Our Science, Technology and Society Council (RWTM) analyses current political developments. It provides facts and interpretation from the technological knowledge and experience of engineers. The facts and opinions given are based on open sources and are not an official position of KIVI. The association accepts no liability for anything put forward by the RWTM or its members
