“Top innovations team will disclose measures in June”
Entrepreneurship at annual Van der Grinten Lecture
Venlo, The Netherlands, 16 May 2011 – “In June, the top teams of our new spearhead sectors will present the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs with a package of measures and opportunities to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in their sector and the emergence of networks and cross border cooperation.”
This commitment was delivered today by Chris Buijink, Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, during his keynote speech at the Van der Grinten Lecture. This annual event is named after the founding fathers of Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery. The Van der Grinten Lecture is hosted by Océ, Maastricht University and the Municipality of Venlo, where it was held today for the sixth time.
Addressing approximately 180 captains of industry, academics and other guests on the theme of ‘Government and Innovation in Times of Change,’ Buijink commented on what the government can do to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability and the emergence of innovative networks.
“Innovate, grow and invest”
“The answer is threefold,” Buijink said. “First, by giving entrepreneurs the space they need to run a company, to innovate, grow and invest. Second, by meeting companies’ demands for a good knowledge infrastructure. And third, by helping companies to gain a stronger position on international markets.”
Cut red tape, provide R&D facilities
Buijink, a seasoned senior civil servant who started out in the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the ‘80s, underlined the need to cut red tape and provide research & development facilities in sectors in which The Netherlands excels. “We have picked nine spearhead sectors,” he explained. “Creative industries, logistics, life sciences, energy, water, chemistry, horticulture, agro food and high tech. For each of these, we have installed a top team, composed of a figurehead in the sector, a scientist, an executive or an innovative entrepreneur of a small or medium-sized enterprise.”
Economic diplomacy and open innovation
In a globalizing world with emerging economies and new markets, international competition is fierce. Buijink is convinced that this competition can best be withstood by partnerships and open innovation in networks. “Companies in such networks must also be streetwise on international markets, provided institutional and cultural barriers can be overcome. Especially in countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China, governments are playing a major role in this respect. They are also doing so in strategic sectors such as water, energy and high tech. That is why economic diplomacy has also become a major element in developing the policies for our new spearhead sectors.”
For more information, please contact:
Nick Gale
Manager Media Relations
Tel +31 77 359 5628
Email nick.gale@oce.com
About Océ
Océ is one of the leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in financial 2010 amounted to approximately €2.7 billion. Océ is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam. For more information visit www.oce.com.
Océ and Canon: Stronger together
In 2010 Océ joined the Canon Group of companies with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to create the global leader in the printing industry. Canon develops, manufactures and markets a growing line-up of copying machines, printers, cameras, optical and other products that meet a diverse range of customer needs. The Canon Group comprises over 197,000 employees worldwide. Global net sales in 2010 were more than USD 45 billion. For more information visit www.canon.com.
Maastricht University: Leading in Learning
Based in Europe, focused on the world. Maastricht University is a stimulating environment. Where research and teaching are complementary. Where innovation is our focus. Where talent can flourish. A truly student oriented research university.
Municipality of Venlo
Venlo is the city where the future is in the making. Promoting innovation and knowledge transfer in the region is an important focal point for the municipality. Venlo is located in both the heart of industrial Europe, close to the Ruhr area, as well as at the center of a hightech region, with companies like Océ, Philips, DSM and ASML and the technical universities of Eindhoven, Leuven and Aken.
Venlo is prominently positioned in the development of Cradle to Cradle as a creative economic concept and has taken the initiative to leverage the power of innovation within the region. A new C2C seat of learning and the C2C-Expolab give the Venlo region a sustainable innovative platform. In Venlo, deeds count more than words. It is the second top technology region of The Netherlands and the third Logistics center in the country. Together with the Agrobusiness Region Niederrhein, the Venlo region is the largest horticultural area in Europe. The preparations for Floriade 2012 are gathering pace and providing living proof of the sustainable innovative power of Venlo and the vicinity.