Innovation

Government initiatives

The Government has identified 9 Dutch ‘Top Sectors’ for further support to promote research and development. The support consists of a 500 million Euro innovation fundfor SME companies and furthermore of a number of fiscal incentives.

The two top sectors most relevant for the oil and gas industry are ’Energy’ and ‘Water’. In order to profit from the government support companies have participated in so called innovation contracts. Companies can make their own innovation contract with the government, but it is also possible to participate in innovation contracts made by others like the innovation contracts of TNO, the Netherlands Wind Energy Association and the Dutch Maritime Network.

Innovation contract Upstream Gas

Via the Dutch Top Sector Policy on Energy, government supports the Upstream Gas innovation program as active research network covering research institutes and industry, including suppliers, to support the Dutch gas sector with knowledge and technology demonstration to produce gas from Dutch onshore and offshore fields with minimum environmental impact and with sufficient support from society. For this several areas have and are subject of research projects (ranging from fundamental to field deployment), such as Basin Analysis, Field Development & Performance, Drilling & Completion, Well & Flowline Performance, Infrastructure, Decommissioning & Abandonment, and Health, Safety, Security & Environment. Read more on www.upstream-gas.nl

Innovation contract LNG

The Innovation contract LNG is an initiative of the LNG TR&D (LNG Technology, Research & Development) Association established in October 2011 to cluster knowledge and expertise of the whole LNG chain and to get the Netherlands at the forefront of LNG technology and application. The aim of LNG TR&D is to remove innovation barriers and to strengthen the knowledge and competitive position of companies in the energy sector. LNG TR&D will take on a key role in the development of new R&D projects.

Innovation contract for the Maritime Industry

The Netherlands is the maritime centre of Europe and has the strongest maritime cluster in the world. Total direct turnover is € 26.3 billion and 185,000 people are employed in the Dutch maritime sector. The ambition is to expand these powerful position. The Netherlands goes for the maritime top of the world under the motto: safe, sustainable and economical strong.

Innovation contract Wind at Sea

The Dutch offshore wind supply industry belongs to the top and is a strong export product. In 2010 the market share of the Dutch offshore wind supply industry in the realization of 1000 MW was more than 25% with a turnover of € 1 billion. However what is lacking is an offshore testing field where many of the planned innovations can be tested. Innovation and lower costs are a must for the Dutch Offshore wind energy industry to keep its leading position. Read more on TKI Wind op Zee…

More information on Top Sectors