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NLR Strategic Plan – 2026-2029

With the Strategic Plan 2026 – 2029, we lay an important foundation for a safer, more sustainable, and more competitive future for the Netherlands. We focus on addressing complex societal challenges and changing geopolitical circumstances, with an emphasis on safety and competitiveness. Our vision is to support the Dutch government and businesses in their search for innovative solutions, particularly by paying attention to high-tech startups and scale-ups.

NLR plays a pioneering role in the Netherlands as the connecting link between science, business, society, and government, with the aim of taking an important step towards a safer, more sustainable, and more competitive future for the Netherlands. The NLR Strategic Plan outlines our ambitions and describes how we will achieve them, with a healthy balance between short-term and long-term research. Download our Strategic Plan below.

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Construction and Manufacturing

18 September 2026

Booklet: Composites Research and Development

A key objective for more efficient and sustainable aircraft is to make lightweight, durable and affordable parts which are designed for ease of maintenance. To be allowed to use parts made of new materials like composite and metal additive printed components in an industry like aviation, all of the materials must be accompanied by the right certification. NLR takes care of the entire process, from calculation and design all the way through to manufacturing, repair and certification. NLR assesses material properties, develops structural concepts and manufacturing technologies, designs components and builds parts up to the level of full scale prototypes. Spanning the entire spectrum of product development is what makes NLR unique.

Sustainability and Environment

18 September 2026

Booklet: R&D More electric and hydrogen-electric powered aerospace

Hydrogen as a fuel is considered to be an important route towards future sustainable aviation. For aviation
applications, hydrogen presents several key advantages: it allows for the elimination of carbon emissions in
flight and along the entire life cycle. Its usage in fuel cells allows eliminating NOx and particles. When burnt
in a turbine engine, very low particle emissions can be expected, as well as reduced NOx emissions, provided that the combustion system is optimised. However, water vapour emissions need to be carefully managed.

Space Technology

18 September 2026

Booklet: Overview space capabilities

Royal NLR works closely with industry and government to design satellites, payloads and launchers systems, as well as subsystems, such as thermal control systems, electronics and antennas. We also invest in state-of-the-art facilities to accelerate our research and develop new space capabilities by leveraging our expertise in aerospace-qualified lightweight composite structures, multi-metal additive manufacturing, and the effective use of Earth observation and satellite navigation data for both civil and military applications.