The Dutch government is a driver of scientific and technological progress with science expenditure passing €4.5 billion every year.

[3] In this article, science is referred to as the ongoing effort to study and understand the natural world, its history and its behaviour using systematic methodology based on evidence.

[4] Technology is an application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes including processes, tools, skills and materials.

Due to the agricultural base of the economy, government intervention was required to prevent poverty and these actions created a model for the development of science policy in the Netherlands.

[9] Scientific experiments proved a positive relationship between artificial fertiliser and soil quality, grain yield and production costs.

Public and private organisations collaborated to inform Dutch farmers of this discovery based on experimental analysis.

[13] R&D is supported by Dutch institutions, universities and industry, allowing the innovation system in the Netherlands to be highly ranked.

[14] A 2014 Review of Innovations Policy[15] by the OECD highlighted the success of the Netherlands in its innovation system, crediting many factors including its long-term socioeconomic performance, human resource base, integration into the global economy, developed infrastructure, performance and skills of Dutch firms, supportive business environment and the global reach of its multinational firms.

[16] The OECD report[13] also noted weaknesses including repeated changes in innovation policy, lack of recognition of the impact of science and technology within the public, entrepreneurial culture, lower tertiary education graduation rates, long-term productivity growth and low scientific research expenditure.