Taskforce Innovatie Regio Utrecht

The Task Force was established to strengthen the economy in the Utrecht region and gained the commitment of all the major players in business, the knowledge institutions and government. Thirteen partners ultimately signed the agreement stating the goals and principles of the Task Force.

Action – not words!
The power of innovation lies with the entrepreneurs: Innovation cannot be imposed by government or other agencies. However, the question of the limited innovative character of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in The Netherlands has generated a lively discussion at government level. We seek to promote innovation in SMEs by a variety of means. We do not just want to talk about innovation, we want to achieve it. Together with the entrepreneurs.

There are five clusters in the Utrecht Region that are capable of reaching top (inter)national positions:

• 1. Life Sciences - The regional knowledge infrastructure has a solid international reputation and a unique composition: Utrecht Universitair Medisch Centrum (UMC, university medical centre) and the Utrecht University Faculties of Medical Biology, Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceutics. The unique character will develop into a sustainable economic sector by means of spin-offs and acquisitions.
• 2. ICT - The Province has the largest concentration of ICT enterprises and employment opportunities in this sector in the Netherlands. The main concentrations of enterprise are located in and near Utrecht, Amersfoort and Hilversum.
• 3. Commercial Services/Consultancy - This is the principal source of employment opportunities for the region with proven growth potential in period of economic boom that is outstanding, both nationally and internationally.
• 4. Design - Utrecht is home to numerous leading design institutes, as a result of which the Utrecht Region has the highest employment rates in the creative sector in the Netherlands.
• 5. Multimedia - The concentration of (multi)media businesses is unique and, along with the relevant knowledge institutions in Utrecht, Amersfoort and Hilversum, it constitutes a unique growth sector.

The involvement of TFI may vary from moral support to (co-)financing and project management. Apart from this, the TFI also plays the following roles:

• Stimulation (generation of new initiatives)
• Facilitation (central secretariat for small-scale initiatives)
• Coordination (to avoid the reinvention of the wheel)
• Representation (presentation of a single coherent image of Utrecht)

Organization
All of the above calls for a compact but powerful working organisation, a ‘light’ administrative structure and a firm embedment with the stakeholders. A programme council and administrative platform will constitute the broad-based platform for the overall policy formulation and/or regional commitment, a small executive committee will function as sparring partner and supervisor to the management and will also serve – where necessary - as an external administrative representative.

The Taskforce Innovation Utrecht has a governing board and a programme council. The implementation of the projects is co-ordinated by the programme office.