Wennink underlines the urgency of digital investments
The report published on Friday, December 12, 2025 – The Road to Future Prosperity (Dutch) – leaves no doubt: the Netherlands (and Europe) is at a crossroads. Without targeted choices and investments, our economic growth risks stagnating and dependence on foreign technology will increase further. The recommendations align closely with the call CIO Platform Nederland (CIOPN) made earlier this year to political parties and the informateur.
The report emphasizes that at least €151–187 billion in productivity-enhancing investments is needed to maintain our prosperity and strategic relevance. Businesses must bear a large part of these investments, but the government will also need to invest, around €19–62 billion.
Wennink also notes that the basic conditions to achieve these goals are present: a strong knowledge base, innovative companies, and a tradition of public-private cooperation. He also points out that while dependencies will always exist, we must prevent them from being one-sided and ensure we have leverage when needed.
Choices must be made, including difficult ones. He also indicates the direction for solutions: investing in four strategic domains – Digitalization & AI, Security & Resilience, Energy & Climate Technology, and Life Sciences & Biotechnology – and ensuring key conditions such as fast permitting, talent development, affordable energy, and a strong digital infrastructure.
To secure financing, Wennink makes several recommendations. Organize government more towards long-term investments and limit consumptive spending. Divest non-strategic state holdings and allow national debt to rise in a controlled manner if there is demonstrably high return. Policy stability, reducing fragmentation of responsibility among ministers, and having the authority to resolve bottlenecks are also important conditions.
CIO Platform Nederland appreciates the concrete and sharp approach of the report and its recommendations. The analysis closely matches the call CIO Platform Nederland previously made in a letter to the informateur (Dutch):
- Make digitalization a central pillar of the coalition agreement
- Strengthen digital sovereignty and resilience
- Invest in AI and digital skills
- Appoint a Minister for Digital Affairs for coordination and coherence
The Wennink report underlines that these choices are not only desirable but necessary to keep the Netherlands and Europe economically and socially resilient.
We hope that the parties currently working on the formation will take these recommendations to heart and show the courage to make the necessary choices. Only then can we ensure that the Netherlands does not fall behind, but instead leads in innovation, digital autonomy, and sustainable growth.
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