Research shows the Netherlands is losing out in the field of clean technology. In 2009, the Dutch were judged to be in 17th place in the sector globally, last year they slipped to 18th place.

The research was carried out by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund. Countries were judged on turnover and investment.

The turnover in the Dutch clean technology sector increased by 15 percent in 2010, but other countries did even better. Denmark, thanks to its large wind farm sector, is still in the lead, and China is making major advances in the field.

In the Netherlands, about 280 companies are active in clean technology, mostly in sustainable energy production and energy efficiency. The Dutch clean technology sector is worth about 1.8 billion euros at the moment, and may be worth as much as 8.6 billion euros by 2015.

(mw/rk)

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