TNO as an international partner

Research and innovation do not stop at national borders. That is why we strengthen the Netherlands’ knowledge base by working closely with leading international knowledge partners, companies and governments. In doing so, we deliver solutions to societal challenges in the Netherlands and enhance the competitiveness of Dutch industry.

Multidisciplinary teams

We approach innovation in a systematic and holistic way. It is about more than “technology for technology’s sake”. We examine all aspects of our lives, including ethical and social questions surrounding how technology is applied and used.
We do this together with multidisciplinary teams.

We strive for comprehensive solutions that take into account human factors, business and societal needs, and public policy.

Internationally distinctive

As a result of globalisation, businesses worldwide are seeking employees, partners and knowledge across borders. The selection of research partners is therefore often made from an international perspective. To remain internationally at the forefront of research and innovation, we work in international collaborations – including in Europe and the Asia‑Pacific (APAC) region – to build an internationally excellent and distinctive knowledge base.

With offices in Japan and South Korea, TNO works in the Asia‑Pacific (APAC) region on solutions for urgent urban and mobility challenges. Together with partners, we accelerate innovation in mobility, energy and urban development, helping to make future challenges in the APAC region – and worldwide – manageable.

We actively participate in European research programmes to enable societal and economic impact. This includes initiatives such as the European Green Deal and European framework programmes like Horizon Europe.

In this way, we are involved at every level of EU project development: from policy discussions in Brussels and the development of EU project frameworks, to the implementation of cross‑border collaborations that contribute to stronger societal development.

Benefits of european research

We see European research as an important “multiplier”: collaboration increases the impact of research. While local initiatives lead to incremental progress, collaboration at EU level offers additional opportunities, such as:

  • shared knowledge development
  • a challenging and inspiring working environment for TNO employees
  • access to competitive funding
  • new networks and greater societal impact

Through this collaboration, we contribute to maintaining a world‑class knowledge base for the Dutch economy and society. We also support Dutch companies, particularly SMEs, in navigating the European landscape.

European key funding programme

We make an active contribution to the EU’s key funding programme, from FP7 and Horizon 2020 through to Horizon Europe. Together with EARTO and Neth‑ER, we contribute to discussions on how research, development and innovation within the Horizon Europe programme (2021–2027) can achieve maximum impact.

Innovation with European Partners

In addition to Horizon Europe, we engage in structural and programmed collaboration with European partners. This takes place in field labs, joint innovation centres (JICs), innovation hubs, consortia and public‑private partnerships.

Combined with our own projects, we believe this is the most effective approach to addressing major innovation challenges. In this way, our impact on industry and society remains strong, relevant and sustainable, allowing us to continue reinforcing both our strategic direction and that of the EU.