NL Agency
NL Agency came about in early 2010 through a merger of EVD, Netherlands Patent Office (Octrooicentrum Nederland) and SenterNovem. This merger will soon be able to provide better services: one customer support desk, coherent programmes, better coordinated financing programmes and transparent, short procedures.
NL Agency works for various ministries, focusing on sustainability, innovation and international business and cooperation. NL Agency can be contacted for information and advice, but also for financing, networking and regulatory matters.
The activities of NL Agency are divided into five thematic divisions:
- NL Energy and Climate Change strengthens society by working on energy and climate solutions for the future.
- NL EVD International stimulates international business and cooperation and promotes a positive image of the Netherlands abroad. NFIA is part of this division.
- NL Innovation helps Dutch businesses to innovate, by providing finance, advice and contacts.
- NL Environment stimulates the achievement of sustainability goals by creating alliances, assessing environmental legislation and providing finance, information and advice.
- NL Patent Office grants patents in the Netherlands, provides information on the patent system and represents Dutch interests in European and international organisations.
Answers for Business (Antwoord voor bedrijven) is also part of NL Agency. Answers for Business provides businesses with information about Dutch government permits, laws and subsidies and thus also on the programmes and schemes of NL Agency. NL Agency will also closely collaborate with Syntens, the national innovation network for entrepreneurs.
NL Agency ensures that government policy is realised quickly, properly and effectively: through clear contact points, first-rate services, sound advice and support. NL Agency also handles monitoring and impact assessment of policy implementation. Signals from policy implementation are passed back to the policy makers. This will contribute to a closer correlation between policy and implementation in the future.
NL Agency is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Its largest clients, other than the Ministry of Economic Affairs, are the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
For further information, please visit the website www.agentschapnl.nl