Netherlands

Existing Sub-Sectors

• Green Chemistry, in which topic organisations as Circular Biobased Delta (CBBD) are active and projects like Circuroad – focussing on replacing bitumen with biobased raw materials – are carried out. Other projects are Biorizon; focussing on bio-aromates; Sugar Delta, focussing on new applications of sugar and other carbohydrates, and chemical Recycling
• Biobased construction, biobased building blocks & products, marine biobased specialities (algae etc.), biobased resources & energy, biobased transitions, and smart energy. Organisations like MNEXT and Green Chemistry Campus are specialised in this.
• Green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Smart Delta Resources (SDR) = a network of many large energy and resource-intensive companies in the Flemish-Dutch Schelde-Delta region are focused on this.

Key Trends Influencing Innovation

• The scope is widening from “biobased chemistry” to “green” chemistry (i.e. circular, biobased, and sustainable chemistry) and in 2023 to plant-based. Less explicit focus on bio-based, and more on the circular economy.
• More bio-based economy, less bioeconomy.
• Decarbonisation, electrification of the industry.
• Collaboration & connection of educational actors of different education types and levels (especially vocational and higher education, etc.).

Expected Sub-Sectors / Value Chains

• Circular by design.
• Valorisation of residues and waste.
• Cascading (See SER document Bioeconomy in the Netherlands 2030 Vision on biomass).
• Biomass stocks must be optimised (cascading)
• Short-term: biomass is vital to realise the objectives of the (Dutch) Energy Agreement and the climate policy
• Long-term: only use biomass for non-food and feed sectors when other renewable alternatives are scarcely available (Chemicals and materials; Aviation and shipping; Heavy long-distance road transport; High-temperature industrial heating)

Opportunities for advancement (Growth, Career, Social etc.)

1. Provinces North Brabant and Zeeland support the transition towards a biobased economy. Both provinces are pushing entrepreneurs towards sustainability (valorisation of residues and waste).
2. Support to start-up companies, and lifelong learning: Educational institutes and the provinces of North Brabant and Zeeland stimulate to deploy knowledge to address regional issues. Knowledge Pact for Higher Education in Brabant (Kennispact HO Brabant) to boost entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, and knowledge development. The same issues are key for vocational education, as agreed in the MBO-Kennispact.
3. Increasing focus and catching up on practice oriented research (in Dutch: praktijkgericht onderzoek).

Governance structure in adult education on Bioeconomy, or on the wider topic of sustainability (Higher Education, Vocational Training etc.)

• For the VET governance structure in general, please see: Cedefop (2023). Inventory of lifelong guidance systems and practices – Netherlands 2023 update. 
• Practice-oriented education is offered by universities of applied sciences and secondary Vocational Education and Training institutes (Dutch: MBOs).
• Research-oriented education is traditionally offered by general and technical universities.
• Centres of Expertise play an important role in the practice-oriented research of universities of applied sciences.
• Online Education
  • Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) – an example is the MOOC “From Grass to Product” developed by MNEXT 
  • Small Private Online Course (SPOC)
• For commercial courses, Avans also started a separate organisation, Avans+. Avans+ organises courses and masterclasses for working people.

Organization of Adult and Lifelong Learning

Selected education and training grants and support schemes:

• Learning and development incentive scheme (Stimuleringsregeling leren en ontwikkelen SLIM-regeling) 
• Lifelong learning credits: many courses are registered as Edubadges on a national website (Edubadges).
• The province of Brabant hosts a platform (Brabant Leert, Met Brabant Leert kom je verder | Blijf je ontwikkelen; juist nu!) on which employees can register and follow (short) programs for free to develop themselves.
• STAP budget for training and development – a national government grant
• Expedition Scheme for Sustainable Employability (Duurzame Inzetbaarheid – DI) and Lifelong Development (Leven Lang Ontwikkelen – LLO)

Available Research on Bioeconomy Education

At the moment of publication, no dedicated research has been conducted for the purpose of the BioGiv.Net project.

Main Training, Retraining or Lifelong Learning on Sustainability

• At VET-level:
  • Process Engineer (Educational institutes Curio and Scalda)
  • Chemistry (Educational institutes  Curio and Scalda) 
• At HBO-level:
  • Biobased Technology and Chemistry (Avans)
  • Chemistry (Avans and Hogeschool Zeeland)
  • Chemical Technology (Avans)
• For the green sector in the region, the most relevant education suppliers are: Agricultural studies (e.g., food and agribusiness) at HAS University of Applied Sciences (HAS Green Academy)

Available Research on Bioeconomy skills needed

Flemish-Dutch INTERREG project Grenzeloos Biobased Onderwijs (GBO), or in English: Borderless Biobased Education, 

• In the book of results, GBO project activities and results (research findings, course modules, interviews, videos, MOOCs, and an online platform) are briefly introduced
• GBO: Market survey on needed competencies 
• GBO developed the European Biobased Knowledge Network (EBKN)

The Dutch BioGov.Net team identified 8 case studies of bioeconomy education in which art concepts are applied:

• Art as a stimulus of the needed skills
  • MU Hybrid Art House
  • BlueCity
• Art addressing learning styles
  • Design Thinking is a way of working within education and other initiatives. Some courses at Avans are fully set up around this innovative way of realizing innovative products.
• Inspirational case studies from art to bioeconomy education
  • Bio-based Bridge, TUe
  • LandArtBrabant (LAB), the successor of Land Art Diessen
  • BioArt Laboratories
• Injecting the bioeconomy in design, art, architecture, etc. professions
  • Bio-based Pop-up and Grow Store, Bergen op Zoom 
  • The Growing Pavilion
  • Exploded View Beyond Building

Working with which marginalised, disadvantaged, minority groups is prioritised?

Residents included in the National Target Group Register are prioritized in the so called. “Banenafspraak” (banenafspraak). As part of this agreement larger employers have to offer a certain number of jobs (125,000 by 2025) to target groups that are not able to earn a minimum wage themselves, mostly because of sickness or disability.

Newcomers, status holders or people who do not speak Dutch are supported, e.g. by a national subsidy called the SOWIS.

Relevant jobs and/or opportunities for inclusion of marginalised groups

Support for the inclusion of marginalized groups thus involves targeting employers so that they offer appropriate jobs for those that cannot find a job themselves, and support employers of status holders (refugees that have been granted asylum) to reduce cultural and language barriers.

Main needs of individuals of marginalised groups integrating them into bioeconomy

• Worthy existence.
  
• Social participation is to a large extent associated with labour participation. 
• Developing own income, autonomy and self-esteem

Existing educational/development organisations that can support the integration of marginalised groups into bioeconomy activities

• Employer Service Points
• Regional mobility teams
• Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), Municipalities
• Social development companies, of which there are many. Their association is called Cedris 
• Service centres on education and work