Technology Matchmaking Service For The Netherlands

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) has announced establishment of the Technology Matchmaking Service (TMS), an effort designed to assist foreign technology companies identify appropriate business partners in the Netherlands.

The free, confidential service will help companies involved in information and communications technology, life sciences, nanotechnology, polymers and water treatment find partners for research and development programs; technical cooperation; and joint venture, manufacturing, or licensing agreements.

Among other things, the TMS enables participants to:

• Save time and effort selecting a potential technology partner
• Get a leg up on the competition in reaching growing European Union markets
• Accelerate the marketing of products in Europe
• Obtain possible technology innovation grants
• Acquire specialized expertise in a technology area
• Access unique research without expanding the in-house staff

The matchmaking service provides foreign companies with a reliable tool to tap into the Netherlands' sizeable information technology, chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical communities, as well as its world-class research institutes and skilled labour pool, according to Robert Schipper, NFIA's Executive Director. "We think this program will help participants develop better products and services faster, while significantly reducing the time it takes to bring these products and services to the global marketplace," he said.

Added incentives to join the program, according to Schipper, are the Netherlands' innovative business environment; its English-speaking, multilingual and highly educated workforce; ample availability of venture capital; subsidies for joint research; and tax deductions for R&D wage costs.

Posted 7^th April 2004