The TNO is never known by its formal name which is
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Dutch organisation for applied scientific research). It was set up by a parliamentary act in 1930 and its role is to ‘make innovation possible by translating scientific knowledge into practice’. Although independent, the TNO works closely with the government and is its main scientific research institute. It is based in Delft and employs 5,000 staff.