The topics of this visit included inclusion of women in technology, making motorized transport more sustainable, innovations in e-mobility, autonomous driving, hydrogen applications and battery technology.

On day three, the delegation was received by Hermann Schützenhöfer, the governor of Styria. Before lunch with the governor, Willem-Alexander and Máxima followed a discussion about the importance of more women in the sciences.

Jacquelien Scherpen gave an incisive speech. A quote "At the University of Groningen, where I moved in 2006 to become full professor, I found they have the pioneering Rosalind Franklin program, focussing on hiring women of top quality at tenure track level. And, the faculty board always expressed that it is important to have women in the field. Why? Well, as role models, but also because awareness that diverse teams perform better, are more creative, and, let’s face it, also in engineering a female perspective is important.”

Jacquelien also discusses about the importance of role models in science, technology and IT. Together with Johanna Pirker (Graz University of Technology), she shared her personal experiences as a woman in the sciences. Sahar Yadegari, director of VHTO (Expertise Center for Gender Diversity in Science, Technology and IT), was also present.

Jacquelien about her experience: "The king and queen were very committed to the subject, in which their commitment to the future of their daughters is a probable factor. We discussed awareness of the 'unconscious bias' for the (certainly hard-working) teachers, as well as the involvement of parents. 

Willem-Alexander and Máxima talked about the fact that the technology sector needs more talent. One solution is to pay attention to the great sides of technology at a young age, for girls and boys. They want to support this wholeheartedly."

Click here for more upates on the Women in Technology meet-up: 

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Click here for updates by VDL on the meet-ups on greaan mobility:

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