Building
the
knowledge
society
Knowledgeland
(KL) is
an
independent
Dutch
thinktank
based
in
Amsterdam.
Founded
in
1999,
its
mission
is to
help
establish
the
Netherlands
as one
of the
key
regions
in the
international
knowledge
economy.
And
preferably
in a
way
that
creates
both
economic
as
social
value.
The
activities
of KL
are
threefold:
1.
Together
with
government,
private
sector,
knowledge
institutions
and
civil
society
we
develop
innovation
strategies.
Strategies
that
help
the
Netherlands
to
realise
its
potential
in the
knowledge
economy
by
changing
its
structures
and
actions.
2.
We
initiate
projects
that
help
people
and
organisations
to take
action.
These
projects
are
aimed
at
enlarging
the
opportunities
for
people
to
participate
in
knowledge
economy,
creating
the
best
climate
for
knowledge
workers
(and
their
companies)
and
stimulating
the
innovation
of
public
institutions
to help
them
work
effectively
in the
knowledge
economy
and
society.
3.
We
organise
learning
networks
around
these
innovation
strategies
and
projects.
These
networks
help
organisations
to
understand
the
need
and
impact
of
knowledge
economy
and
share
experiences
while
taking
action.
Thus,
KL
brings
together
a
network
of
government,
private
sector,
knowledge
institutions
and
civil
society
to
think
about
the
consequences
of the
knowledge
economy
and how
to
respond
to it
as a
society.
But
that is
not its
final
destination.
KL also
translates
this
response
in
concrete
action
and
supports
learning
in this
transformation
process.
In
short,
we
learn
by
acting.
Links
with
international
partners
KL
endeavours
to
establish
partnerships
with
people
and
organisations
around
the
world
that
are
intrigued
by the
fundamental
transformations
of
knowledge
economy
and
society.
These
partnerships
will
enable
us to
exchange
experiences
and
build
learning
relationships
to
understand
and to
create
successful
regions
in
knowledge
economy.
We
are
keen to
share
experiences
with
you.
For
more
information
on KL
and our
activities,
please
visit
our
website
at
www.knowledgeland.org.
You can
also
contact
us
through
email:
info@kl.nl.
And
please,
do feel
free to
bring
others
in
contact
with us
as
well.
A short
history
In
just
over
four
years
KL has
grown
from an
idea
into a
professional
organisation
run by
a team
of
about
15
people.
Here is
how it
all
started.
Mid-
1999
three
people
take
the
first
steps
to
start
KL as a
catalyst
for the
development
of the
Netherlands
towards
a
knowledge-based
society.
Frans
Nauta,
the
original
founder,
is then
joined
by
Joeri
van den
Steenhovenand
Bartjan
Jansen.
The
constitutional
meeting
takes
place
on
October
2
1999.
A
network
of 75
supporters
selects
10
projects for
KL to
work
on. The
projects
SmartCity(
Kenniswijk)
and
Digital
Playgrounds
(Digitale
Trapvelden)
are the
first
to be
realised
in
2000.
From
then on
KL
gradually
gains
the
reputation
as an
original,
enthusiastic
and
creative
club
with
expertise
on the
knowledge-based
society.
A
growing
number
of
people
and
organisations
approach
KL
asking
for
support.
KL
builds
a track
record
consisting
of
numerous
projects.
More
and
more KL
becomes
an
actor
in the
public
debate
on the
knowledge
economy.
In
2003
KL
publishes
the
Knowledge
Economy
Monitor
and the
national
Innovation
Platform
is
established
under
presidency
of
Prime
Minister
Balkenende.
The
idea
for
this
platform
came
from KL
and
Frans
Nauta,
president
of KL,
also is
the
secretary
of the
Innovation
Platform
now.
