Peter Wennink’s Wake-Up Call
Why the Netherlands Must Choose Between Comfort and Competitiveness
Last Friday at Nieuwspoort, former ASML CEO Peter Wennink presented his report, “The Netherlands: From Delay to Action”, outlining a roadmap for the country’s economic future. Central to his vision is a shift toward a technologically advanced and highly productive society, supported by top-tier education and resilient economic structures. Wennink emphasizes that the Netherlands cannot rely on incremental policy adjustments alone; achieving long-term prosperity requires decisive action to secure technological leadership and strengthen national earning capacity.
The scale of the transformation is substantial, with projected investments between €151 and €187 billion by 2035. The report offers 51 concrete proposals, covering regulatory reforms as well as strategic investments in artificial intelligence, energy, defense and digital infrastructure. Collectively, these measures represent one of the most comprehensive economic frameworks in recent Dutch history, aimed at positioning the Netherlands to navigate a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive global landscape.
Read MoreAI Agents as Strategic Infrastructure
What Salesforce’s Agentforce 360 reveals about Europe’s approach to innovation, regulation and trust
Salesforce’s introduction of Agentforce 360 marks a new phase in the evolution of artificial intelligence inside organisations. Rather than positioning AI as a standalone automation layer, the concept of the “Agentic Enterprise” frames AI agents as collaborators: systems designed to support employees in decision-making, coordination and execution. While this approach is technologically ambitious, its European rollout reveals challenges that go far beyond software adoption.
Read MoreAltair Media: Top Universities Worldwide – Europe, US & Asia (2025)
Europe, the US and Asia represent three distinct higher education models.
US: Innovation-driven, entrepreneurial, with strong industry links and private funding—producing tech giants and startups.
Europe: Research-focused, collaborative, publicly funded—emphasizing societal impact and accessibility.
Asia (especially China): Rapidly rising through massive state investment, excellence initiatives and scale—closing gaps fast in research output.
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