One of its directors was professor Jan Tinbergen, who won the first Nobel prize in Economics in 1969.
Another director, professor Klaassen, stimulated growth in the field of spatial economics.
Later, professor Molle led the NEI to prominence in the field of European integration.
[1] Thereafter NEI merges with Kolpron, a Dutch consulting company in real estate.
In 2000 NEI Kolpron merged with the UK company ECOTEC Research & Consulting, established in 1982.