The Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation AcTI published its 2015 Annual Report.
The Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation aims to use its authoritative and widely-acknowledged position as an Academy of Engineering to contribute to vigorous social debate revolving around science, technology and innovation. Social debate that does justice to the different opinions and interests of the social and political communities, as well as to the available scientific and technical knowledge.
The Academy endeavours to improve the research and innovation climate
in the Netherlands by acting as an independent sounding board and
representing authorities in the field of technology and innovation.
Members of the Academy manage to obtain grassroots support from their
companies and learning institutes, even if the viewpoints of the Academy
do not (always) represent grassroots interests.
Working method
From
its members, the Academy selects working groups that prepare responses
or viewpoints related to current topics. The Academy frequently develops
its own visions and/or viewpoints in the field of science, technology
and innovation. The Academy gladly discusses these with social and
political trendsetters or policymakers.
The Academy primarily conveys its ideas, opinions and viewpoints via its individual membersand their networks
Cooperation
So that it can achieve its mission, the Academy
maintains relations with relevant organisations in the Netherlands, as
well as with European and international networks of Academies of
Engineering Euro-CASE and CAETS. Thanks to these international umbrella
organisations , the Academy members have access to technical sciences
and innovation decision-makers in all global developed economies. This
has allowed the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation to sign
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Academy of Engineering
in 2014.
Innovation Conferences
Once a year, the Academy prominently goes
public by organising the AcTI Innovation Conference. Chapter 2 contains
further information about the 2015 Innovation Conference, Engineering
Smart Cities of the Future, which was held at the Delft University of
Technology in conjunction with the 2015 Annual Conference of Euro-CASE, the European Council of Academies of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering.