THE NETHERLANDS AS E-COUNTRY AND ICT

In October 2008, the Nyenrode Business Universiteit conducted research among Dutch companies and managers regarding their opinions about the Netherlands as an e-country, and the current state of affairs with regard to ICT. A total of 528 companies and managers participated in the study.

A few results:
• 36% of the respondents think that the Dutch government is an important proponent of innovation in IT.
• At the same tim 70% of the companies and managers believe that the Netherlands should do more to compete in the field of the knowledge economy.
• A group representing 40% thinks that the Netherlands is losing the knowledge economy battle to America and the Far East.
• According to over half of the companies and managers surveyed, further expansion of the knowledge economy is primarily a task for the EU.
• Compared with competitors/associated businesses in the Netherlands, 55% of those surveyed considered their own company (very) progressive in the field of IT. This is 33% when comparing their own business with that of companies in Southeast Asia and 31% comparing with the United States.
• 36% of the companies and managers are currently experiencing (serious) shortages of qualified IT personnel within their companies.
• Of the group that is not currently experiencing a shortage of qualified IT personnel, 16% expects that this will, however, be the case in the near future.

Click here to read the report