The Ministry of Economic Affairs has a network of Netherlands Officers for Science and Technology that covers twelve countries at this moment. Officers for Science and Technology (TWA) gather and analyse information for Dutch companies, knowledge centres, universities and governmental institutions. TWA’s provide contact information for bilateral cooperation and answer questions.

TWA’s are Dutch experts ‘on the spot’, which allow them to create entries at a desired level. TWA’s speak the language of the country that they are stationed in and have knowledge of the social-cultural customs of the respective country. TWA’s gather most information using their extensive network of contacts and various kinds of information sources.

The most important services that the TWA system provides is to (on demand) inform Dutch SME’s and institutes on the technological developments in the respective countries and to establish international contacts. The service of the TWA’s is entirely free. TWA offices are supported by the TWA home base at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The TWA in Finland mainly focuses on technological innovations in the field of ICT, Life Sciences and Environmental Sciences.