Conclusions

1. We need a –governmental- long term economic strategy. Government and businesses have to reconsider there current exclusive liberal economic policies.

2. In order to create resource efficiency and fruitful economic diplomacy cooperation between likeminded states is necessary to secure our industrial competitiveness. The intensified collaboration between businesses, knowledge organizations and government is (triplex helix) is of utmost importance and should be enhanced.

3. Governments are expected to play a facilitating role, new inspiring role as neutral broker, but also need to have an overarching overview and a long term economic strategy as businesses are forced to think according to short term market standards and incentives

4. Speakers were concerned that China, which foresees a trade war as soon as EU recognizes the situation, takes it for granted and is preparing to create a situation of resource nationalism.

5. There are mostly no physical limitations to resource s available in the short run but due to high demand there is a situation of high prices and lower availability creating volatility in the markets.

6. Collaboration in value chains is a prerequisite to be successful in new business models for resource efficiency. There are a lot of business opportunities using typical Dutch strong practices to gain positive effects on resource efficiency, like logistics, trade and waste management creating a less resource depended economy.

7. Dutch industry already shows innovative solutions regarding recycling, substitutions or reduction of material use. As was shown in the conference already. But there is more to gain from close cooperation with knowledge organizations and partners.

8. Prepare yourself analyzing for product parts and its vulnerability for supply disruptions and benchmark industry and procurement processes on the issues.

9. Government should enhance a legislative framework that is supportive and should remove obstacles (e.g. transport of waste, anti-trust, status of end-of-live of products)

10. The Dutch ‘topsectoren’ policy should be linked more to EU innovation programs to create more synergy.