Knowledge in action : knowledge and know-how in the Dutch economy / Ministry of Economic Affairs; Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries.

  • Netherlands. Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Date:
1995
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Knowledge in action : knowledge and know-how in the Dutch economy / Ministry of Economic Affairs; Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    favourable conditions and, where necessary, through investment, often in conjunction with other parties. This currently applies to the following areas: - communications and information technology - the creation of a sustainable economy with the help of technology technology for addressing social issues. 8.1 The electronic highway The debate about globalisation and networks would never have arisen without the tumultuous developments in information technology. These developments have given many companies a worldwide choice of locations for different activities and partners (even on the other side of the globe, if required). The quality of the information infrastructure thus becomes a deciding factor in a country’s economic potential. It is therefore not surprising that entrepreneurs cite the information infrastructure as one of the two most important factors in attracting businesses”. Growth percentages in the information sector (between 4 and 8%) far exceed the average growth of GDP in countries with highly- developed economies. In the US, this sector has proved to be one of the biggest job creators in the past 10 years. By 1998, turnover in the European multimedia market will have increased around ninefold compared with 1994. Employment prospects are also good, with forecasts of 2,200,000 jobs being created in the European audiovisual sector between now and the year 2000*. All this proves that the information sector is expanding into a major branch of the global economy. The need to achieve a greater knowledge intensity within the economy . therefore goes hand in hand with the highest possible ambitions in the field of information infrastructure. 57 Healy & Barker's Survey: ‘European real estate monitor 1990’, 58 Commission of the European Communities: ‘Growth, competitiveness and employment. Towards the 21st Century: means and challenges’, Page 129, EC 1993. 59 Parliament was informed about progress in carrying out the National Action Programme by letteP of 3 May 1995. Knowledge in Action In an important area such as information technology, the Netherlands is in a good position compared to its neighbours in being able to attract a large proportion of the current and expected growth and employment. For instance, we provide a home to several large international information technology and telecom companies, and have a relatively strong audiovisual and publishing sector. We also have innovative software and telematics companies, plus a high cable density. On the other hand, we also have a number of weaknesses. New service suppliers still have too little access to our telecommunication and media markets. Partly as a result, we charge relatively high rates and the quality of our advanced telecom services is often not as good as it should be. In the information sector in particular, the Netherlands wants to be among the European front-runners in terms of economic growth and employment. We will therefore need a first-class infrastructure offering optimum access to new services. At the end of 1994, the Dutch government launched the National Action Programme on Electronic Highways, aimed at making the Netherlands one of the top three European providers of information technology. Work on implementing this programme started this year. The first task will be to increase the role of the market in the media and telecom sector. The government will also stimulate the development and application of electronic highways by promoting attractive demonstration projects in the private sector and projects in the public sector (the government as ‘launching customer’, service provider and supplier of information)®. The Action Programme mentions various possibilities for funding of its implementation. The progress report presented to the Second Chamber of Parliament on 3 May 1995 states that the
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