View source for Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research

{{Short description|Dutch organisation}}
{{use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{copyedit|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
| native name = Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek
| logo = Logo-TNO.svg
| image = Koningin Julianaplein met Nieuw Babylon.jpg
| caption = {{illm|New Babylon, The Hague|lt=New Babylon|nl|New Babylon}} in The Hague, head office of TNO since 2015
| size = 200px
| abbreviation = TNO
| formation = 1932
| headquarters = [[The Hague]], [[Netherlands]]
| employees = 3,900
| website = https://www.tno.nl/en/
}}
The '''Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisational structure {{!}} TNO |author= |work=tno.nl/en |date= |access-date=22 May 2025 |url=https://www.tno.nl/en/about-tno/organisation/structure/}}</ref> ({{langx|nl|Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek}}, abbreviated '''TNO''', literally "Dutch Organisation for Applied Scientific Research") is an independent [[statutory]] research organisation in the [[Netherlands]] that focuses on [[applied science]]. It conducts contract research, offers specialist consulting services, and grants licenses for [[patent]]s and specialist software. TNO also sets up new companies to market innovations.

== Background ==
TNO was established by law<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-01 |title=wetten.nl - Regeling - TNO-wet - BWBR0003906 |url=https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0003906/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website = wetten.overheid.nl |language=Dutch}}</ref> in 1932 to support companies and governments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tno.nl/en/about-tno/organisation/|title=ORGANISATION|website = www.tno.nl| access-date= 15 Dec 2017}}</ref> TNO also held 10% of the Austrian research center [[Joanneum Research]] from 2004 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.kleinezeitung.at/s/wirtschaft/4620178/Kaernten-steigt-ein_Neustart-bei-Joanneum-Research| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150430022306/http://www.kleinezeitung.at/s/wirtschaft/4620178/Kaernten-steigt-ein_Neustart-bei-Joanneum-Research| archive-date = 2015-04-30| title = Neustart bei Joanneum Research > Kleine Zeitung}} </ref>

==Model==
The work of TNO is focused on the so-called Top Sectors, and social issues relevant to Europe.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

The Early Research Programmes and Shared Innovation Programmes are always funded in part with public funds. Research results are further developed and applied in contract research, which is fully funded by TNO's customers.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==Projects==
*[[Sentinel-5 Precursor#Tropomi instrument|TROPOMI]]:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/tropomi-will-help-us-answer-pressing-questions-about-climate-change/|title = Tropomi will help answer pressing questions about climate change|website = time.tno.nl}}</ref> A satellite instrument that carries out measurements on the [[troposphere]].
*Personalised Digital Health:<ref>{{cite web| url = https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/personal-digital-health-is-developing-rapidly/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170706060403/https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/personal-digital-health-is-developing-rapidly/| archive-date = 2017-07-06| title = Personal digital health is developing rapidly - TNOTIME}} </ref> A personalised diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
*[[Hybrid electric vehicle|Hybridisation of Trucks and Buses]]:<ref>{{cite web| url = https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/towards-affordable-hybrid-freight-vehicles/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133311/https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/towards-affordable-hybrid-freight-vehicles/| archive-date = 2018-01-03| title = Towards affordable hybrid freight vehicles - TNOTIME}} </ref> Focuses on the Total Cost of Ownership reduction for trucks and buses.
*[[Platoon (automobile)|Truck Platooning]]:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/twelve-reasons-why-truck-platooning-will-be-a-success/|title = Twelve reasons why truck platooning will be a success|website = time.tno.nl}}</ref> This project creates truck platooning technology.
*[[Blockchain]]:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blockchain.tno.nl/tno-and-blockchains/|title = TNO and Blockchains|website=blockchain.tno.nl}}</ref> Provides a blockchain laboratory.
*Shaded Dome:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.tno.nl/en/articles/the-military-base-of-the-future/|title = The military base of the future|website=time.tno.nl}}</ref> In cooperation with the armed forces, it is a dome structure designed to protect against harmful weather conditions and provide ballistic protection.
*The GeoERA programme:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://geoera.eu/|title=GeoERA|website = geoera.eu|accessdate=Jan 21, 2023}}</ref> Several institutions from 31 countries are cooperating on geological research projects.
*Innovation for Development:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tno.nl/en/about-tno/tno-and-its-social-role/innovation-for-development/|title = Innovation for development|website=www.tno.nl}}</ref> A programme designed to disseminate research results to small and medium-sized enterprises.
*[[SolaRoad]]:<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spakovskis|first1=Robert|title=SolaRoad: World's first solar cycle path to open in the Netherlands|url=http://phys.org/news/2014-11-solaroad-world-solar-path-netherlands.html|website = phys.org|date=Nov 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mlot|first1=Stephanie|title=The Netherlands Preps World's First Solar Road|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471920,00.asp|publisher=PC Magazine|date=Nov 10, 2014}}</ref> [[Bike path]] made from solar panels, known as a "SolaRoad". It deteriorated in just a few years and in 2020 it was removed being considered a failure.
*[[TNO intestinal model|TIM]]: TNO Intestinal Models, a system of models to mimick the digestive tract.<ref>{{Citation |last=Minekus |first=Mans |title=The TNO Gastro-Intestinal Model (TIM) |date=2015 |work=The Impact of Food Bioactives on Health: in vitro and ex vivo models |pages=37–46 |editor-last=Verhoeckx |editor-first=Kitty |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500162/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |place=Cham (CH) |publisher=Springer |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-16104-4_5 |isbn=978-3-319-15791-7 |pmid=29787065 |editor2-last=Cotter |editor2-first=Paul |editor3-last=López-Expósito |editor3-first=Iván |editor4-last=Kleiveland |editor4-first=Charlotte|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Locations==
TNO is headquartered in [[The Hague]]. Other locations include: [[Amsterdam]], [[Delft]], [[Rijswijk]], [[Leiden]], [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]], [[Helmond]], [[Petten]], [[Soesterberg]], [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], [[Ypenburg]], [[Zeist]] and [[Eindhoven]]. TNO also has international branch offices in [[Shin-Yokohama]] ([[Japan]]), [[Toronto]] ([[Canada]]), [[Brussels]] ([[Belgium]]), [[Doha]] ([[Qatar]]), [[Singapore]] and [[Aruba]]. The locations of [[Hoofddorp]] and [[Enschede]] were closed in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tno.nl/en/about-tno/locations/|title=LOCATIONS|website = www.tno.nl| access-date= 15 Dec 2017}}</ref>

==Criticism==
In 2006, a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] research group refuted a widely publicised TNO&nbsp;report claiming [[UMTS]] radiation was a health hazard.<ref>[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]], 6 June 2006. [http://www.nos.nl/nos/artikelen/2006/06/art000001C689339165FB6C.html "Straling UMTS-mast niet schadelijk"].</ref> The organisation also received criticism after the evacuation of 200&nbsp;residents of an [[Amsterdam]] housing estate over fears of its structural integrity when the construction had been technically approved by TNO only five months earlier.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]|date=11 July 2006|url=https://www.nu.nl/algemeen/776706/ontruiming-bos-en-lommerplein-amsterdam-video.html|title=Ontruiming Bos en Lommerplein A'dam"|access-date=22 January 2023}}</ref> TNO was also criticised for its 2006 handling of an investigation into the collapse of a balcony in [[Maastricht]] in 2003 that killed two people.<ref>{{cite web|website=hwww.nu.nl|date=6 November 2006|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/onacceptabele-rol-tno-in-zaak-balkondrama~b8b48c5f/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F|title=Onacceptabele rol TNO in zaak balkondrama|lang=nl|access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref>

In 2018, TNO was accused of committing fraud to disguise the cause of the disaster for their report about the [[Enschede fireworks disaster|fireworks disaster in Enschede]] on 13 May 2000, according to an investigation by [[Paul van Buitenen]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Vorkink|date=29 October 2018|url=https://www.ftm.nl/artikelen/tno-pleegde-fraude-om-oorzaak-vuurwerkramp-enschede-te-verhullen?share=1|title=TNO pleegde fraude om oorzaak vuurwerkramp Enschede te verhullen|website=www.ftm.nl|lang=nl}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscatinline}}
*{{Official|http://www.tno.nl/en/}}
*[https://www.tno.nl/en/tno-insights/ Corporate platform for blogs, interviews and background stories]

{{coord missing|Netherlands}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Research institutes in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Science and technology in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:1932 establishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 1932]]