Netherlands Defense Ministry Forges Innovation Partnerships to Accelerate Military Technology Development

2026-02-09 community

The Hague, Monday, 9 February 2026.
Dutch Defense State Secretary Gijs Tuinman has signed agreements with regional development agencies across multiple provinces to fast-track dual-use technology innovation. The nationwide collaboration specifically targets technologies like AI, drones, and cybersecurity that serve both civilian and military purposes, creating significant opportunities for Dutch startups and scale-ups in the defense sector.

Strategic Regional Partnerships Emerge

The Letter of Intent signed today encompasses collaboration with regional development companies (ROMs), provinces, and private sector representatives, marking a significant expansion of defense innovation efforts across the Netherlands [1]. The current agreement focuses on the regions of East and Central Netherlands, North Holland, and Zeeland, with previous similar agreements already established in South Holland, Limburg, and North Brabant [1]. For North Holland specifically, the signing included Esther Rommel, deputy of the province of North Holland, Niels Blij representing Avy as chairman of the Defense Innovation Steering Group North Holland, Bart Sattler as Regional Ambassador North-West of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Janet Nieboer, CEO of ROM InWest [1].

Dual-Use Technology Takes Center Stage

The collaboration aligns with the Ministry of Defense’s ambition to invest substantially in innovation, with particular emphasis on dual-use technologies that can be deployed both civilly and militarily [1]. These technologies not only contribute to the safety and resilience of the Netherlands but also strengthen the future earning capacity of the regions involved [1]. The focus on dual-use applications represents a strategic approach to maximizing return on defense investments while building civilian economic capacity. Janet Nieboer, CEO of ROM InWest, emphasized that “this collaboration opens new doors for North Holland entrepreneurs working on innovative technologies,” specifically highlighting the region’s strong and innovative ecosystem with companies active in AI, drones, and digital security [1].

Regional Innovation Ecosystems Gain Momentum

The official signing ceremony took place during the Purple Nectar Event 2025 in Nijkerk, an annual knowledge and innovation event focused on sharing the latest technological developments and applications that contribute to an agile and future-proof armed forces [1]. This timing demonstrates the integration of defense innovation initiatives with broader technology development ecosystems. Meanwhile, parallel regional efforts are gaining traction, as evidenced by the DURF (Dual Use Region Flevoland Utrecht) event held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Aviodrome in Lelystad, where entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, and governments came together with a shared mission to develop technology with both civilian and defense impact [5]. Provincial deputy Toon van Dijk noted that “Flevoland and Utrecht are seizing the opportunities that Defense offers by connecting our entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions with concrete challenges” [5].

Investment Patterns Signal Market Confidence

The defense innovation push comes as regional development agencies demonstrate strong investment activity in technology companies with dual-use potential. ROM InWest has supported several significant funding rounds, including HeartEye’s €1.675 million capital injection, Healthplus.ai’s €2.3 million raise for its PERISCOPE® AI system predicting surgical complications, LIFEPOWR’s €5.65 million funding for energy technology development, and ThePhoneLab’s €2.5 million expansion capital [2][6]. These investments span sectors directly relevant to defense applications, from medical technology that could support military health services to energy solutions applicable to defense infrastructure. The defense market is experiencing significant movement, with investments in security and technological advancement expected to increase substantially in the coming years [5]. This creates an essential window for entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, and governments to collaborate on innovations with both civilian and defense impact, positioning Dutch companies to capitalize on growing global defense spending while building civilian market applications [5].

Bronnen

defense innovation technological resilience