We play an important role in driving innovation through public-private partnerships within the Mission-driven Innovation Policy, as coordinator of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Mission-Driven Innovation.
Bart Ahsmann, Director of CLICKNL
Mission-Driven Innovation Policy
Innovation policy in the Netherlands has changed in recent years. Where innovation was previously organised within the framework of the mission-driven top sector and innovation policy, mission-driven innovation is now embedded in the new industrial and innovation policy. The focus of this new policy is not only on mission-driven innovation, but on a combination of mission-driven innovation and an industrial policy aimed at strengthening promising markets and technologies for economic earning capacity and strategic autonomy.
CLICKNL works to accelerate societal transitions by encouraging collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions and government.
Origins: the top sector policy
CLICKNL was established within the top sector policy, which from 2011 to 2025 formed an important organising framework for Dutch innovation policy and was formally concluded on 1 January 2026. The top sector policy focused on stimulating innovation through collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions and government, with attention to both economic development and societal challenges.
Within this framework, CLICKNL functioned as a Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI). From this role, CLICKNL supported public-private partnerships and knowledge development around design and innovation. Although the top sector policy has ended, the networks, knowledge and working methods developed during this period continue to form the foundation of CLICKNL’s work.
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Mission-Driven Innovation Policy and themes
Since 2018, the Netherlands has been working with the Mission-driven Innovation Policy. This policy aims to accelerate societal transitions by defining concrete missions and organising collaboration between public and private parties.
The challenges within this policy are complex and call for collaboration across domains and disciplines. CLICKNL works within this mission-driven framework and aligns its programmes and activities with the missions that have been defined, with a focus on knowledge development and practical application.
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The five major social issues
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MISSIONS
In order to take targeted and joint steps, concrete, measurable goals and ambitions have been formulated within the five themes: the missions. These drafted missions offer perspective. An example: "By 2050, biodiversity and nature's resilience including soil vitality have been sustainably restored." / Theme: agriculture, water & food
KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION AGENDAS
The missions within the Mission-driven Innovation Policy are further developed in knowledge and innovation agendas. These agendas guide research, programming and collaboration for the period 2024–2027.
The Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Mission-Driven Innovation (KIA MV) provides the overarching framework. Within this framework, the Key Enabling Methodologies (KEMs) Agenda and The Power of Design Agenda contribute to knowledge development, strengthening design power, and applying knowledge in practice.
Read more about these agendas below.
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Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Mission-Driven Innovation
The KIA MV offers prospects for action by developing knowledge, insights and tools.
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Agenda Ontwerpkracht (The Power of Design)
The Agenda Ontwerpkracht (The Power of Design Agenda) describes what knowledge is needed to strengthen and better utilize the power of design for societal challenges.
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KEM agenda
The KEM Agenda is a research agenda that guides the necessary research on KEMs. We realize interventions using Key Enabling Methodologies (KEMs).