Decline in Government Innovation in the Netherlands Sparks Urgent Call for Action
The Hague, Monday, 29 September 2025.
The Netherlands sees a decrease in government innovation, from 86% in 2021 to 76% in 2025, necessitating immediate measures to address challenges like climate change and digital transformation.
Current State of Innovation in Dutch Government
The latest Innovatie Barometer Overheid 2025 reveals a significant decline in innovation within Dutch government organizations, with participation dropping from 86% in 2021 to 76% in 2025. This decline is alarming as it suggests a potential weakening in the government’s ability to effectively address contemporary challenges such as climate change and digital transformation [1].
Factors Contributing to the Decline
The decrease in innovation primarily affects areas focused on interaction and communication with society. Despite strong performance in process innovations like digitalization and automation, the overall innovative capacity is described as fragmented and lacking a unified goal [1]. Larger organizations tend to innovate more frequently than smaller ones, often due to having dedicated innovation functions [1].
Urgent Need for a Unified Innovation Agenda
In response to these findings, experts like Eva Heijblom, Director-General of Digitization and Government Organization at the Ministry of the Interior, emphasize the need for a cohesive innovation agenda. This agenda should unite fragmented efforts and align them with a future-oriented strategy. Dirk-Jan de Bruijn, Chairman of the Rijks Innovatie Community, highlights that a successful innovation climate requires more than just a strategic vision; it demands actionable support from top management, including budget allocation and space for experimentation [1].
Recommended Actions and Future Outlook
The Innovatie Barometer Overheid 2025 recommends establishing a joint innovation agenda to prevent fragmentation and leverage synergies across government entities. There is also a call for increased investment in human capital and creating an environment conducive to innovation. The upcoming webinar on November 6, 2025, aims to further discuss these findings and strategies to enhance innovation within the government sector [1].