"I want to talk about the theme of
innovation at a higher level, by highlighting more depth and
greater perspective compared to how political parties currently
talk about it. I want to connect it to:
1. The position of the Netherlands in
Europe
2. The position of Europe in the world
3. Sustainability
4. The humanisation of the world.
1. Creative destruction
The Netherlands can participate in
developing, applying and disseminating progressive IT and
digitisation for new, sustainable products and processes that bring
prosperity quantitatively and qualitatively higher consumers around
the world, now and in future. This can give way to meaningful and
high-quality employment. This program is only feasible with an
interactive Europe. The discussion on the financial and monetary
aspects of the crisis has diverted too much attention away from
this innovative route to sustainable economic and social
development. The implementation of the Digital Agenda is the
vehicle for "creative destruction": the term the Austrian economist
Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950), used to characterise what is
happening in the world: demolishing the old and creating the
new.
2. All in the same boat
Given that this process is happening
elsewhere in the world, no country in Europe - not even Germany -
can maintain its position alone when competing with the global
strength of new emerging economies. Europe must
therefore work together sensibly. The current financial
restructuring at EU level is a sign of Europe's growing sustainable
and qualitative economic development, which can compete with other
blocs in the world.
3. Meaningful
discoveries
Sustainable economic development will lead
to massive investment and meaningful employment but it requires
continuous innovation. This is above all about impressive gains for
The Netherlands, Europe and the world. Gains which consumers
experience with increased prosperity. Improving the environment,
clean drinking water for everyone, sustainable energy and reducing
climate threats are tangible improvements for citizens. So here are
tremendous opportunities for innovative businesses that respond to
new needs and which the Digital Agenda also provides for.
Economists who believe that the environment only costs money do not
see, for example, that the renovation of all houses in The
Netherlands would fulfill private and social needs more for
sustainability than building new offices and homes which remain
empty. Sustainability is the future.
4. Humanise businesses
By this I mean that the people in question,
i.e. in their role as consumers, should come back into the picture
- in corporations, healthcare and education where there is talk of
'dehumanisation'. The Digital Agenda can serve this purpose.
Europe faces many challenges these days. If
we don't adapt - quite simply, we may not be able to keep those
happy lifestyles. When I say challenges, I don't just mean the
economic crisis. There is also, for example, the challenge of
managing energy resources in a world of climate change. Or the
challenge of a society that's getting older, and more dependent.
All these, and more.
What's my prescription? It's that we need to
make the most of our strengths. Here are three things in
particular.
Linking the
markets
First, in Europe, we are privileged to
belong to the biggest single market in the world, and a community
of common values. For the Netherlands, the EU accounts for
three quarters of our exports - exports worth 120 billion euros a
year, and 1.5 million jobs. The economic benefits are clear. But
that link between our markets, and between our 500 million
citizens, didn't happen by accident. It happened thanks to vision,
to a spirit of innovation and cooperation. We should be inspired by
that example. Because we can't face up to the challenges ahead by
calling each other names. Nor by complaining about our neighbours
and partners. Nor by pretending we could do without them. No: that
won't work. Plenty of other parts of the world are ready to race
ahead of us. We must keep up, and so we must work together.
Let me give just one, simple, example of
how. Wireless devices - your phone, your smartphone, your WiFi
router - they only work thanks to radio spectrum. Well, that
spectrum is becoming extremely precious; demand is growing
exponentially. Each year, wireless broadband use doubles.We'll have
to deal with that issue. And we should do so collectively and
cooperatively. Otherwise tomorrow's smartphone may just stop
working when you cross the border.
Today, the European Commission set out how
the "shared use" of spectrum can fuel innovation for wireless
devices.This is a bold and essential proposal. If we work together,
we can deliver something essential to our citizens' futures. If we
don't, we could strangle the wireless revolution.
Seize all opportunities
The second thing to do to secure our future,
is to grab every opportunity we have. Technology is one of those
opportunities. Particularly Information and Communications
Technology. Its amazing potential offers me so much hope. Make no
mistake: ICT is huge. The new services the Internet enables give
you so much more efficiency, that the Internet helps small
companies grow twice as fast, creates 5 jobs for every 2 lost,
gives a massive boost to GDP. No wonder ICT provides half of
Europe's productivity growth. Already, today, Europe's Internet
economy is bigger than The Netherlands, and growing faster than
China. There seems no limit to it. Of course ICT delivers not just
growth, but government services, healthcare, education,
electricity. As we saw in the Arab Spring: digital tools can even
deliver democratic change!
And technology makes it easier than ever to
do things differently. Online, you don't have to ask anyone's
permission to innovate. It's cheaper, easier, less risky. Barriers
to entry are low; what counts is energy, boldness, and being
empowered. That's why you and your generation, can achieve more
than mine ever could. And if you can tap just a small fraction of
that potential, of that innovation, there's more than enough to
keep us all afloat.
Nurture the talent
The third thing we need is to use the huge
talent we have here in Europe. I saw that talent on display last
week in Berlin, at "Campus Party". 10,000 young innovators and
inventors between 16 and 30, all dedicated to tackling new
challenges, to finding new solutions, and prepared to work day and
night to deliver them.
And I saw that talent today here in Delft.
Some very clever young guys using modelling to solve the world's
problems, from simulating brain activity, to predicting floods. And
one fantastic company, founded by Delft graduates, making
electronic chips in a very innovative way. I also recently visited
a waste factory in Rotterdam which made new products out of the
waste. I know there's a lot of talent waiting to emerge right here
in this room, too. Remember, it's our number one resource. Use it
wisely. But here's one more thing. The reason why I'm telling you
all this.
Up until now, when things have gone wrong,
it's someone else's fault, someone else's job to fix it: your
parents, your professors, your employer; bankers, bureaucrats,
politicians. But soon, for you students, it will
be your generation in control. You and your colleagues
making the decisions that affect people's lives. Then it's going to
be your responsibility to fix it, and you to blame if we don't.
Take that seriously. Don't make the same mistakes as the current
generation. Understand your responsibilities; and step up to them.
To do that, to solve the world's problems, you will need serious
skills, know-how and experience. From now on, equipping yourself
with those things is your duty.
And for you, faculty in the room, you have a
duty too. A duty to teach your students how to learn, and how to
innovate. A duty to ensure they take nothing for granted. A duty to
ensure they dare to be bold. That's the environment where
innovation thrives; and change happens. If I have one piece of
advice for all of you today, it's this: don't be afraid to take a
risk. And don't be afraid to try out a different kind of
career.
Take the risky road
If people tell you the only good job is safe
job in a big organisation with a nice pension: ignore them. That's
one lifestyle - but not the only one. You could also be
self-employed. A freelancer. A consultant. An
entrepreneur. An innovator. Whatever you want. But only YOU
can decide what the right path is - and then don't let anything, or
anyone, stand in your way. Because quite simply, we won't innovate
and adapt if people play it safe. We need entrepreneurs, prepared
to take a risk, prepared to try things out. So do try it. If it
doesn't work, don't worry: failing is the most important, most
instructive thing you'll ever do in life. And if it does work,
maybe you'll have found something you're amazing at, an idea that
works, a change to improve our world. Now is the time in your life
take those kind of risks. So take advantage.
I'm going to leave you with just one more
thought. I remember when I was at university, all the things I
dreamed of, and all the schemes I had. I remember most of all
believing then that I could do them all by myself. But at some
point you'll realise you're just one among a huge crowd of others.
Just one of those birds in that flock you saw on the video earlier.
Just one person working your way among a swell of individuals, each
seeking their own path, moving in their own way. And just like
those birds, you won't stay static. You'll lead and follow, disband
and regroup, innovate and learn, organise and adapt. And the result
will be amazing."