Time setter story: Consultant Ilse Hellemans connects strategy with innovation

TNO connects innovation with entrepreneurship

From medical wearables to breakthroughs in quantum technology – TNO develops innovations that enhance the earning capacity of the Netherlands. It is the country’s largest independent research and technology organisation, employing around 5,000 people – from researchers and engineers to economists and consultants.

TNO also establishes consortia and new companies to ensure that the innovations, knowledge and methodologies it develops are implemented in practice. ‘This is how we contribute to a safe, sustainable, healthy and digital society,’ says Ilse Hellemans.

A unique position

As a consultant, she ensures that TNO not only leads in terms of content, but also creates real-world impact. ‘We call this “orchestrating innovation”,’ she explains. ‘I make sure the right parties are connected – from policymakers and researchers to SMEs and large corporations. Together, we translate knowledge into business processes, new infrastructure and concrete actions.’

Her role at TNO requires skills from traditional consultancy, but with a distinct twist. ‘Previously, I would solve a problem for a specific client. At TNO, I bring together multiple organisations that share a common challenge, and we look for solutions that match their needs and context.’

There’s also plenty of room for personal initiative, she adds. ‘At TNO, you can truly initiate new collaborations. Because we’re independent, both public and private parties trust us to create a neutral space where they can take joint steps forward. My role is to actively identify bottlenecks, bring people together, structure the dialogue and safeguard the strategic direction.’

Translating knowledge into solutions

Hellemans has a background in communication and business sciences, business and IT. She began her career at the university, conducting research and teaching about digital innovation. She then held various roles in management and digitalisation consultancy, working on projects related to digital transformation, business cases and implementation strategies.

‘I moved from academia to consultancy to apply my knowledge of digital innovation and social issues more practically. What I appreciate about TNO is that we don’t stop at advice – we look at how to apply it on a larger scale: how do you translate knowledge into strategy, and from strategy into sector-wide solutions?’

Shaping the world of tomorrow

Hellemans works at TNO Vector, a unit focused on societal transitions and how businesses and governments can realise them. Her work centres on themes such as digital sustainability, responsible use of AI and future-proof IT ecosystems.
‘It’s not about a single product or service, but about accelerating digital and sustainable innovation across sectors and systems. Because we’re working on the world of tomorrow, there are no ready-made scripts. That makes it challenging, but also incredibly fun. Every issue is unique.’

One example is the Green IT Value Case. ‘We brought together major organisations from both the public and private sectors to make IT more sustainable. TNO’s independent position allows us to identify the necessary partnerships to understand this shared challenge, collaborate on solutions and accelerate progress.’

‘We partnered with consultancy firm Accenture to highlight key questions and bottlenecks in a paper. We also collaborated with leading companies and published case studies from their practice: Philips, ABN Amro, Rijkswaterstaat, Maasstad Hospital and Air France-KLM.’

‘What I find special about TNO is that we focus on societal impact and how innovations strengthen the earning capacity and strategic position of companies. Business value and societal value truly go hand in hand here. That makes collaboration with organisations especially powerful: you’re working on solutions that are sustainable, future-proof and competitive.’

Making a difference

According to Hellemans, TNO is a great fit for consultants who want to continue developing their expertise and apply their analytical skills to societal challenges. ‘I see enormous opportunities to advance consortia, refine strategic directions and steer towards impact. Especially in complex, multi-stakeholder settings, you can really make a difference as a consultant.’

‘That’s not always easy,’ she admits. ‘You need to be resilient. Innovation moves fast, while knowledge development takes time. You have to be able to navigate that tension. But if you’re proactive and can bring others along with you, you can realise real solutions here.’