Dutch R&D expenditure expected to surge

More money earmarked for innovation but spending as a proportion of GDP remains too low

For the first time in years, government expenditure on R&D and innovation in the Netherlands is increasing substantially—but the country is still some way below the EU target of at least 3 per cent of GDP being spent on R&D.

A report on 20 May from the Rathenau Institute, which researches science and technology policy, estimates that overall government spending on R&D and innovation will surge by 25 per cent from its 2019 level of around €7.3 billion to reach €9.2bn in 2025.