Safe and secure society

The Netherlands has to remain a safe country for its citizens to live and to work in. Combatting threats is therefore the core task when it comes to the protection of Dutch and European society. NLR proposes solutions to the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice and Security which contribute towards a safer society. These solutions can help in the effective performance of tasks, and can increase the combat readiness of troops and the resilience against new threats in the air and in space.

A safe society is not a given. In a turbulent time of global threats and complex challenges, the value of security is becoming increasingly clear. The Netherlands and Europe are faced with the task of finding innovative solutions that strengthen our defence and keep our country safe. NLR is constantly striving to increase the resilience and readiness of our country, which is essential for a stable Netherlands in which citizens can live, work and live safely. NLR supports, among others, the Ministries of Defence and Justice and Security, as well as the aviation sector. Our commitment to air and space safety is of the utmost importance. We are also developing safety measures for new technologies such as electrification, artificial intelligence (AI) and drones. By focusing on the safe implementation of new developments, we reduce risk and strengthen the integrity of our country. An interdisciplinary approach is necessary in view of the interconnectedness of a safe society with other themes. In addition, a challenge lies in balancing technological progress with related safety requirements and regulations. Exploring new technologies requires testing and building knowledge. In addition, aviation regulation is shaped by lessons learned from the past and requires constant adaptation and innovation.

A safe transport system

For a safe society, a healthy and safe living environment must be guaranteed, and the risks to citizens of a transport system minimised. Trust in the government and certainty about the legitimacy of supplied products and services are fundamental to a sense of security. NLR supports the Dutch aviation sector and the government in this task. It is essential that new developments, such as aircraft electrification, the introduction of AI and the use of drones in residential areas, are operationalised in a safe way. The risks must be recognised and mitigated.

Safety and security

It’s important to distinguish between safety and security. Safety relates to unintended dangers to people and the environment due to a natural or technological cause, such as a flood, flu pandemic or an accident in the chemical industry. Security is concerned with intentional dangers caused by deliberate human action.

Mark van van Venrooij, Vice President of the Aerospace Systems division

‘In order to meet the needs of the Dutch defence, we certainly need to make the best and most targeted use of our innovative capacity. Because as indicated in the ‘Defense Vision 2035,’ Defense wants to innovate, modernize and incorporate other ways of fighting, with technology and information more central. They are going to shape this by means of ten established organisational principles in which we see a prominent role for NLR, in particular for ‘Authoritative information position’ and ‘Multidomain and integrated action’.

Discover the strategic programmes related to this theme

Safe and competitive operations 

Programme Safe and competitive operations The aerospace sector has had to deal with several major disruptions in recent years (for instance COVID-19 and the consequent downsizing of operations and then later scaling them up again, staff shortages, economic developments and the war in Ukraine). It is also a sector that is highly sensitive to political […]

Development of air and space vehicles

Programme Development of air and space vehicles NLR wants to enable the Dutch aerospace industry to have a competitive share from 2025 – 2050 in the development and production of the next generation low emission aircraft, in programmes for the next generation helicopters, in new small satellites, launchers and space applications, and in new flight […]

Operational availability

Programme Operational availability NLR supports Defence, the aviation industry, MRO and maintenance companies and airlines in the development and application of innovative, sustainable solutions for maintenance, inspection and repair. In this way, NLR wants to contribute to the optimisation of the material availability and the cost effective use of aircraft, helicopters, drones, wind turbines and […]

Information-driven operations

Programme Information-driven operations NLR supports the Dutch government in accelerating the transformation of its operational concepts and systems into information-driven operations. The focus lies on the tactical and operational processes within the aerospace domain. The goal is to speed up these processes, on the basis of better informed decisions. “ Data is indispensable for a […]

Future air & space power

Programme Future air & space power In this programme, NLR is building a leading knowledge position in the field of training and simulation, making aerospace part of information-driven, multidomain and integrated operations. We do this together with our national and international (EU, NATO) partners. The focus lies on knowledge of threat systems and technology, the […]

Unmanned and autonomous 

Programme Unmanned and autonomous  Drones are a key enabler for innovative solutions to tackle rapidly changing societal, economic and security challenges. For the Netherlands to play a role in this, the government and Dutch industry, including start-ups and SMEs, must be able to create innovative drone solutions, platforms and systems in a safe, sustainable and […]

Emerging technologies

Programme Emerging technologies This programme is the breeding ground for new technologies and ideas within NLR. NLR invests in technologies of the future that are widely deployable for NLR and that could have a huge impact on the way that we live, learn, work and produce. Consider, for instance, virtualisation, digitisation, automation, AR/VR, (explainable) artificial […]