Investing in knowledge and innovation for economic growth

On behalf of the fourteen Dutch universities, VSNU Chairman Karl Dittrich today signed the Dutch knowledge and innovation contract 2014-2015. These innovation contracts will lead to an investment of two billion euros in research and innovation within the nine most competitive and promising sectors. In these top sectors public-private cooperation will take place between businesses and universities.

VSNU Chairman Karl Dittrich: ‘I am happy with the investment that has been announced. The top sector policy ensures a strengthening of the contacts between academia and business. That is important for the innovative capital of the Netherlands and, hopefully, it will contribute to a rapid recovery of the economy.’ The universities emphasise that in addition to this valuable investment, there remains a need for funds from the government and business for those areas of science and academia outside the top sectors.