The Dutch Invented Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the Microscope. They Are European Leaders in Innovation

The Netherlands has long been ranked among Europe’s top innovators. The country is internationally recognized for its open culture and emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, fostering a vibrant and collaborative startup ecosystem. As the inventors of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the microscope, the Dutch are early adopters of technology, and their thriving startup scene results in a high number of patents each year.

Dutch inventors and researchers are among the most active patent applicants at the European Patent Office (EPO). According to EPO data, the Netherlands, as a European research and development hub for various multinational companies, holds the second-highest number of patent applications per million inhabitants in Europe.

The Netherlands consistently ranks highly in international comparisons of science, research, and innovation performance, both in terms of overall country rankings, national scientific systems, and individual universities. The European Commission publishes an annual European Innovation Scoreboard, where the Netherlands has consistently ranked among the top five EU countries since 2016. In 2024, it secured fourth place, behind Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

The significant role of the private sector

Research and development (R&D) activities in the Netherlands are conducted by various types of organizations, including private companies, research institutes, and universities, with funding coming from multiple sources. In 2022, more than €21.5 billion was invested in R&D. The private sector is the largest contributor, covering over two-thirds of these investments and serving as the biggest exporter of scientific research and development results. The Dutch public sector funds approximately one-third of R&D, while Dutch scientists also receive financial support from European funds (such as European research programs) and private non-profit organizations.

The primary government body responsible for science, research, and innovation is the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, which directly oversees the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). NWO serves as the main grant and research funding agency in the country, operating under the Dutch Research Agenda, a national scientific policy framework. This agenda is further developed into strategic plans, such as the current NWO Strategy 2023–2026. The government’s advisory body for science, technology, and innovation is the Advisory Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation (AWTI), composed of prominent Dutch scientists and academics.

Regarding the number of research institutes, NWO oversees 16 research institutes, while the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) manages another 12 specialized research institutions. The Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport supervises the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and globally recognized agricultural and food research is conducted at Wageningen University & Research.

Supporting investments in science

One of the Dutch government’s key tools for encouraging private investment in science is Invest-NL, a private foundation funded by public resources. It is solely owned by the Ministry of Finance and has been operational since 2019, following the approval of the “Invest-NL Foundation Act” by the Dutch Parliament. This legislation defines its primary mission: to contribute to financing and implementing societal transformation tasks by businesses and to provide access to funding where the market fails to do so sufficiently.

In addition to national initiatives, various local projects connect research and innovation with real-world challenges. One example is Amsterdam AI, which unites scientific institutions and the city of Amsterdam to explore artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, public services, and business development. These initiatives create not only economic opportunities but also serve as inspirational models for other countries to follow.

The Netherlands attracts students with English-language education

Dutch universities are among the leading providers of English-language study programs, attracting tens of thousands of international students each year. As English is widely spoken across Dutch society, international students and researchers typically have no difficulty integrating into everyday life, even if they choose to stay in the country after completing their studies or research projects. Combined with the country’s high quality of life, this guarantees a steady influx of talent, which contributes to the excellence of Dutch knowledge institutions and R&D.

This also applies to students, PhD candidates, and young researchers from the Czech Republic, who participate in various research projects at Dutch universities and research institutes. In collaboration with the Czexpats in Science organization and the Czech Embassy in The Hague, the first annual “Meeting of Young Czech Scientists and Researchers” took place at the Czech Ambassador’s residence in early 2024, bringing together more than 40 participants currently engaged in Dutch research and academic institutions. The second edition of this event is planned for May 2025 as part of the PROPED economic-science diplomacy project.

Innovation charter and knowledge transfer support

To actively support knowledge transfer at the national level, the Netherlands signed the Innovation Charter in 2004. This agreement between the Association of Universities, the Employers’ Organization (VNO-NCW), and the Federation of University Medical Centers (NFU) establishes cooperation criteria between industry and knowledge institutions. It includes recommendations on intellectual property, scientific integrity, and publication strategies. The core idea of the charter is that innovation requires effective exchange between businesses and knowledge institutions. New products and services are increasingly being developed through knowledge-sharing rather than within isolated companies. To reap the benefits of public and private research investments, collaboration is more crucial than ever.

Many Dutch universities have established independent organizations, usually in the form of wholly university-owned holdings, to support these efforts. These holding companies house spin-off firms created by university staff, former employees, and students based on university-acquired knowledge, often protected by patents.

Universities own inventions

Dutch universities follow specific rules regarding expenditures and revenues from patents. By law, inventions made at universities belong to the institutions, making them responsible for patent applications and related costs. To support this, several universities have established patent funds. Universities also assist their spin-offs with facilities and resources.

Most Dutch universities have one or more incubators where newly established firms can operate collectively. These incubators provide access to shared equipment, business development support, mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.

Frequent visits from the Czech Republic

Due to the strengths of Dutch universities, innovation infrastructure, and research institutions, they are frequently visited by Czech academic, research, governmental, and regional institutions aiming to establish collaborations and exchange best practices in innovation infrastructure development and technology transfer. One example of a successful mission was the study tour to incubators and science parks in the Benelux countries, organized by CzechInvest in cooperation with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Czech embassies in the region as part of the PROPED project.

This article was originally written by Stanislav Beneš, Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in The Hague and has been translated and published with his permission.