THE NETHERLANDS IN THE EU LEADING GROUP FOR DIGITIZATION
26/11/2021
Keywords: Dutch Digitization Strategy, Investment in Digital Transformation, DESI 2021, Digital Infrastructure, 5G, Dutch SME’s, Digital Public Service.
In 2018, the government announced the Dutch Digitization Strategy (NDS). With the NDS, the government has represented the integrated approach of the digitization policy to manage the digital transition in the Netherlands, through setting-out the ambitions and objectives to make this transition successfull. Every year, the government examines whether new developments makes an adjustment of the strategy necessary.
Dutch companies are increasingly using digital technologies. In addition, the Dutch government is investing extra in digitization, promoting cooperation between government, business and science and encouraging Dutch people to become (more) digitally skilled.
The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2021 ranks European countries in terms of the quality of digital infrastructure, citizens' use of digital applications and online skills, the extent and manner in which businesses are digitally active and the online services provided by the government itself.
According to the EU's annual Digital Economy and Society Index of 2021:
- the Netherlands ranks fourth out of the 27 EU Member States, just behind Denmark, Finland and Sweden;
- the Dutch digital infrastructure via fixed and mobile networks scores higher due to the very high availability of fast fixed broadband internet (>100 Megabits per second) and rises to second place in the EU in 2021;
- the availability of mobile internet via 5G in the Netherlands is also far above the European average;
- in the human capital dimension, the Netherlands ranks third out of 27 EU countries;
- on integrating digital technology into businesses’ activities, the Netherlands ranks fifth among EU countries;
- 75% of SMEs have at least basic levels of digital intensity, recording the fourth highest score in the EU. The corresponding figure for large enterprises is 95%;
- as regards digital public services, the Netherlands ranks 8th among EU countries, above the EU average. 91% of internet users use digital public services, up 7 percentage points from last year’s DESI, putting the Netherlands just after Denmark and Finland.
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References:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2021/11/17/nederland-blijft-in-eu-kopgroep-digitalisering-door-extra-investeringen
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/digital-economy-and-society-index-desi-2021
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2021/04/28/kabinet-stuurt-derde-update-nederlandse-digitaliseringsstrategie-aan-de-kamer
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