Netherlands Aerospace Group (NAG)
‘We know a lot about aircraft!’ The Netherlands Aerospace Group (NAG) is an aerospace industry association. NAG has over one hundred members including several large companies, research institutes, training centres and numerous specialist SMEs from the civil and military aerospace arena. Collectively the aerospace cluster generates a turnover of € 2.8 billion and employs over twenty thousand people. Two thirds of its activities relate to maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and the remainder to manufacturing. Approximately eighty per cent of this turnover comes from exports. NAG’s strategy is based on mutual partnerships and ongoing innovation aimed at creating competitive products and services. The association also invites international companies to share in its goal of maintaining a leading position in MRO, materials and systems that help create a more environmentally friendly aviation sector. NAG has three goals – championing the cause of Dutch companies abroad, lobbying government and knowledge mobility. Members present themselves internationally under the guise of the NAG, ‘NAG members help make your aircraft green.’ Trade Missions NAG has organized several trade missions to China, and in November 2013, a trade mission to Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. A trade mission to France was a particularly high priority for Frank Jansen (NAG Managing Director), ‘The aerospace industry requires long-term commitment and strategy. The Partnership for International Business programme is the ideal forum for discussing and determining collective strategies.
6
Government participation in the programme has many benefits including a low barrier to access for SMEs.’
❯ Frank Jansen (NAG Managing Director):
According to NAG Chairman René van Doorn, the Dutch aviation sector is one of the Dutch economy’s crown jewels, ‘Including KLM and Schiphol, it employs over 125,000 people. That’s something to be proud of.’
‘We can’t win on cost alone, we have to be smart too’
The sector also relies heavily on innovation. ‘We can’t win on cost alone, we have to be smart too. We’ve accumulated over a hundred years of experience. Aerospace is also a major boost for our high-profile high-tech systems and materials sector. This is why we join forces on the international stage. For example, Fokker has re-established itself as a leading company and allows numerous other smaller companies to piggyback on its success. TAPAS and Glare® are two technologies originating from some of our companies. Intelligent baggage-handling systems developed in the Netherlands can be found at airports all over the world. And hatches and arrester hooks on the F-35 originate in the Netherlands.’ Training Van Doorn believes that innovation is the key to future success. Training and education are incredibly important. He applauds the Centres for Innovative Engineering recently established in the Netherlands. ‘It would be a major bonus if we were able to attract a large number of technical personnel at a secondary vocational education level. It’s about investing in people – our human capital.’ Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is still a hotbed for the Dutch aerospace industry, ‘Graduates are leaving university to work at TNO, NLR and other aerospace companies. It’s a steady flow of human capital that we need to nourish. Aerospace is just one of our main export products – this human capacity is crucial. We know a lot about aircraft!’
THE E X P E R TI S E OF E X C E LLE NC E
www.nag.aero