The role of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in innovation in the maritime sector (English summary)
Little innovation occurs in the maritime transport sector. This is due to the fact that the sector's innovation system does not function well. The maritime sector itself is responsible for improving the innovation system. If the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (IenM) wants to promote innovation within this sector, it can choose from a wide range of roles: director, legislature, buyer and launching customer, contracting authority, public-private partner and subsidy provider.
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The ministry must determine which combination of roles is most effective and efficient. The assumption that government can only promote innovation through granting subsidies must be abandoned. The role of subsidy provider alone is insufficient and often unsuitable for allowing an innovation system to function well.
The KiM Institute of Transport Policy Analysis reached this conclusion following its analysis of the maritime innovation system.In order to allow innovation to flourish, seven innovation functions must be clearly established: experiments by entrepreneurs, knowledge development and knowledge sharing, guiding and directing the innovation process, creating markets, making resources available, and lobbying against resistance. KiM concludes that almost all seven functions can be improved in the maritime sector.