Time for a Dutch ADS ecosystem

Why automated driving requires more than just technology

Worldwide, automated driving is developing at a rapid pace. While self-driving vehicles seemed like a distant prospect just a few years ago, they are now operating commercially on public roads in various locations. Europe is also accelerating. New regulations are paving the way for large-scale applications, and an increasing number of countries are investing in field trials and implementation.

The Netherlands has everything it takes to play a leading role in this. With a strong logistical position, high-quality infrastructure, leading knowledge institutions, and a long tradition of public-private cooperation, the necessary conditions are in place. Much is already happening within the Netherlands as well. Governments, companies, and knowledge institutions are working on pilots, regulations, technology, and new applications.

Yet, there is a fundamental question that is becoming increasingly urgent: How do we ensure that all these initiatives together lead to a future-proof mobility system?

From experiment to implementation

The biggest challenge does not lie in the technology itself. The real challenge is to introduce automated driving in a way that contributes to societal goals such as road safety, accessibility, economic innovation, and addressing labor shortages. This requires coherence between technology, policy, infrastructure, regulations, business models, and societal acceptance.

This is precisely where a new task emerges. The Netherlands has many valuable initiatives, but a common course is still lacking—one in which knowledge is shared, choices are made, and pilots contribute to a broader implementation strategy.

A joint approach

Connekt sees this as a typical public-private issue. Not one that can be solved by a single organization, but one for which governments, companies, and knowledge institutions must act together.

As an independent network, Connekt has been bringing these parties together for years to address complex mobility and logistics issues. This experience forms the basis for a proposal (white paper) to also work on a joint ecosystem for Automated Driving Systems (ADS), where cooperation, knowledge sharing, and scaling up are central.

What will you discover in this white paper?

• Why the Netherlands has everything it takes to become an international leader in automated driving – and why that won't happen automatically.
• Which system choices will be decisive for the successful implementation of ADS in the coming years.
• How individual pilots can grow into a coherent national approach.
• The role that public-private cooperation plays in accelerating innovation and societal impact.
• A concrete proposal for an implementation roadmap towards 2029 and 2035.

The white paper is intended for everyone involved in the development, application, or policymaking regarding automated driving: from governments and road authorities to vehicle manufacturers, carriers, technology companies, knowledge institutions, and other organizations within the mobility and logistics domain.

Download the white paper

Curious about which steps are needed and what role your organization can play? Download the white paper: From pilots to impact; a public-private approach for Automated Driving Systems in the Netherlands.