Clean Industrial Deal: A future proof Europe is a future proof Northern Netherlands
As the Northern Netherlands Region, we welcome the development of the Clean Industrial Deal (CID). With the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Commission outlined a comprehensive strategy to advance Europe’s industrial sector towards sustainability and competitiveness. As geopolitical developments reshape the global economy, Europe must strengthen its industrial competitiveness while accelerating the transition to climate neutrality. This is a message that resonates with our region and goes hand in hand with the experience of our own regional industry. The Clean Industrial Deal provides a strategic framework to achieve these ambitions.
Our position
Place-based involvement is a recipe for success
Our region is ready to actively contribute to Europe becoming more competitive and greener, building on our expertise and strengths in Energy, Hydrogen, Water, Clean Technology and Circular Economy. As recognised leaders in hydrogen and circular economy innovation, we are well positioned to contribute with our practical experience and knowledge to European policymaking and strategy. In line with the report of Mario Draghi on the future of European Competitiveness, we agree that a strong European focus on regional governments is needed to provide the right incentive for competitiveness and transition. Regions provide for the needed bottom-up innovation, and where we see a strong link between investments and sustainable future proof reforms. Place-based involvement is a recipe for success. Our region and cities will collaborate to ensure not only regional but also European sustainable competitiveness. We stand ready to contribute to the legislative proposals, put forward by the CID in 2025.
Thumbnail iStock-1192897531 waterstof.jpgProven track record: Europe's first Hydrogen Valley
Our capacity to contribute is demonstrated through, our Regional Innovation Strategy, where we leverage European funding to become a sustainable, innovative, and circular region where regional governments work closely with academic institutions and private enterprises. This approach has led, among other achievements, to Northern Netherlands being recognized by the European Commission as Europe's first Hydrogen Valley, HEAVENN, and our selection as the first European Regional Innovation Valley in the field of Circular Economy, ECIV
Hydrogen Valley
Strategic sectors: where our strengths match the CID
Strategic sectors: where our strengths match the CID
We strongly support the CID's focus on mobilising investment in strategic industrial ecosystems. The sectors identified by the European Commission closely match the strengths of our region, including energy-intensive industry, hydrogen, clean technologies, and the circular economy. Strengthening these sectors will not only contribute to Europe's strategic autonomy and competitiveness, but also support regional economic development, innovation, and enhance the quality of life for our citizens.
Delivering decarbonisation
The Northern Netherlands stands ready to help deliver Europe's decarbonisation objectives. Building on our industrial clusters, strategic infrastructure, skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem, we are transforming existing industrial assets into future-ready hubs for clean industry. With the right regulatory and investment framework, regions can accelerate industrial decarbonisation while strengthening competitiveness, creating quality jobs, and limiting social and economic disruption. This is how Europe can turn the challenges of the transition into long-term economic opportunities. Together with our European partners we have the ambition to ensure resilient regional development in the long term by actively contributing to the objectives of the CID.
