CLICKNL Continues the Movement - 'Top Sector' Policy and 'Top Team' to be Discontinued

The current top sector policy and top team will cease to exist on January 1, 2026, but TKI CLICKNL will continue with undiminished enthusiasm. It will continue to play a crucial role as a connector in the “golden triangle” of businesses, knowledge institutions, and government, with a mission-driven cross-sectoral approach for a broader target group than the creative industry.

“We will continue to play an important role in driving innovation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the Mission-driven Innovation Policy as coordinator of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Mission-Driven Innovation (KIA MV),” says CLICKNL director Bart Ahsmann.

This shifts CLICKNL’s role for the Ministry of Economic Affairs from a focus on the sector to one of realising societal and economic impact. At the same time, the creative industry remains a crucial sector for CLICKNL, both within the ministry and for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

As the Top Sector label and its management model come to an end, the creative industry’s innovation agenda remains strong. CLICKNL director Bart Ahsmann emphasises that, despite structural changes, Dutch industrial and innovation policy will continue—and the creative sector will remain essential in tackling major societal challenges.

Over the past fifteen years, CLICKNL has grown into a powerful connector between creative professionals, government, and research institutions. Key achievements include:

• Breaking down silos and strengthening cross‑sectoral collaboration.
• Developing major agendas such as KEM and KIA MV, which have boosted research and innovation capacity.
• Launching large-scale programs like CIIIC, the biggest innovation program for immersive experiences, funded with €200M from the National Growth Fund.
• Growing long-term research investment from NWO/SIA to around €120M by 2027.
• Introducing new initiatives such as the Circular Textiles Action Plan (ACT).
• Green lights for the future: Design power is now officially recognised by the Dutch government as an economic necessity, strengthening the creative sector’s position in future innovation policy.

Read the Full Article: www.clicknl.nl/en/news/clicknl-continues-the-movement/