InnovationNetwork has 12 staff members. The network of people actively involved with InnovationNetwork is about forty times that figure – about 500.

Yes and no. Yes, because we are paid by the Ministry and because we present our programmes to the Minister each year for his advice. InnovationNetwork is also one of the instruments through which the Ministry pursues its innovation policy.

No, because an independent board is responsible for how InnovationNetwork does its work and for the effectiveness of our programme. InnovationNetwork is not on the organigram of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. So a good answer would be: we have ties with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, but we occupy an independent position.

TransForum focuses on short-term innovations. Together with other organizations, it takes on co-financed projects which combine science with practical application. By doing so, TransForum contributes to a new, dynamic and cross-disciplinary knowledge infrastructure.
InnovationNetwork is developing concepts that push the envelope of innovation. It also puts these innovations into practice. InnovationNetwork looks toward the long term.
InnovationNetwork and TransForum both work together with businesses, various levels of government, social agencies and knowledge institutes. All those involved share a common mission: to work on the sustainable development of the agricultural sector and of green areas in the Netherlands.

Our staff and programme budget are paid by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. We are also cofinanced by the private sector, through alliances like SIGN and Courage. Finally, several projects are financed in part by other parties.

There are no hard and fast rules for this. In general, though, we look at the following aspects:

The more ideas, the better! If your idea involves a groundbreaking innovation in one of InnovationNetwork’s fields of interest, do not hesitate to contact us. To check out what type of innovations we are interested in, see our publication of concepts developed between 2000 and 2005 (‘Five Years InnovationNetwork: System innovations in rural areas, agriculture and nutrition 2000-2005’. Elsewhere on this web site, you will find contact details of our staff members and the concepts and themes that they are involved in. You may approach a specialised staff member, or call our general number.

InnovationNetwork bases its decision whether not to invest in a new idea on two general criteria: the idea must be truly groundbreaking (see question five), and it should address one or more of the innovation challenges identified by the board for each theme (see the theme pages on this web site for innovation questions). Naturally, we only have limited means and capacity. We have no choice but to set priorities when we draw up our work programme each year and we do so with careful deliberation.