Geopolitics

As Special Representative for the Raw Materials Strategy, Allard Castelein advises the government and the business community on how to make Dutch supply chains more resilient. To begin with, this requires increased awareness. ‘I tell the story and raise awareness among stakeholders. But the sense of urgency should be much greater. This transformation will need an intervention for it to have a chance of success. The government must not only facilitate the business community but take on an active role itself.’

How to lead organizations responsible for the future-proofing of critical infrastructure, while simultaneously scaling up, digitizing, and preparing for crises? The experts at our roundtable agree that leadership in these times requires a fundamentally different mindset. ‘We must act much more as an ecosystem and collaborate with partners in an open and constructive manner.’

The Draghi report puts Europe's competitive position in sharp focus. For the Netherlands, it presents both opportunities and challenges. How can we strengthen our country in an increasingly competitive world? At the request of the House of Representatives, TNO translated the findings from the Draghi report to the Dutch situation. ‘Dutch Competitiveness in the Light of the Draghi Report’ outlines concrete recommendations. We sat down with Marc Zegveld, managing director of the ICT Strategy & Policy unit, and Thijmen van Bree, senior researcher at TNO. ‘We must be in the game to win, not just to avoid losing. That requires a change in mentality.’

Evolving from a spin-off from Delft University of Technology to a Champions League player in the global solar industry, Eternal Sun, a specialist in solar simulation for testing solar panels, proved that Europe can indeed scale up technologically. But CEO Florian van Rijn of Alkemade warns that without a complete industrial ecosystem, strategic autonomy remains a paper tiger. ‘Give concrete form to the most complex pillar of the Draghi report: strategic autonomy.’

Europe is still being carried along by an American agenda that is not its own, with the result that European companies are losing market share, missing opportunities, and being surprised by Chinese competitors they had underestimated. From Philips' loss of its MRI dominance to ASML's thwarted export restrictions: Europe is paying the price for a lack of an own vision. It is time for a change of course, write sinologist Valérie Hoeks and Sanne van der Lugt of the Dutch Advisory Council on International Affairs.

The recent NATO summit in The Hague was a resounding success. Unity within the organization was preserved, largely because NATO chief Mark Rutte handled US President Donald Trump with kid gloves. This is good news for Dutch defense companies that export to the United States, although possible new trade barriers remain a risk. The question, therefore, is who can negotiate with Trump on behalf of Europe to prevent a costly trade war.

The Ministry of Defense is facing an unprecedented scale-up. How is the organisation doing it, what are the challenges they face and what is the role of the business community? Sjoerd van der Smissen of Deloitte says: ‘The business community needs to take on its role.’ He is in conversation with Secretary General of Defense Maarten Schurink. ‘Businesses can be of help to both society and Defense.’