Modern aircraft are many years (dozens) in operational use.
The maintenance costs of a modern aircraft amounts to two times the original purchase costs. For this reason maintenance is commercially of equal importance as compared to the development of new aircraft or aircraft components. The economic advantage of efficient maintenance, repaire and overhaul has been underestimated for a long time.

The Netherlands can rely on a qualified professional technical workforce. The central position of the Netherlands in Europe and its excellent logistical infrastructure makes it particularly attractive for maintenance tasks on aircraft and aircraft components. Distances within the Netherlands are relatively small, as a result of which an effective cooperation between large companies and SMEs is possible.

NIVR has the aim to put the Netherlands on the map as the ‘Maintenance Valley’ of Europe. To reach this target, a multidisciplinary approach and an effective harmonisation between the ministries involved and the sector is necessary. This cooperation exceeds the effective range of the (new) Innovation Platform (Netherlands platform responsible for innovation policy). NIVR intends to intensify her intermediary role with regard to its mission.