NL Pavilion as a catalyst in Hall 13

The NL Pavilion in Hall 13 is the central platform where the entire Dutch ecosystem comes together: from startups and scale-ups to SMEs, major industrial players, and knowledge institutions. The pavilion is the place for matchmaking, cross-pollination, and high-level dialogues regarding strengthening the high-tech industry and solving societal challenges. This year, Dutch participation revolves around 4 themes:

• Defense industry: strengthening European autonomy
• Materials and innovative chemistry: strategic autonomy and European resilience
• Semiconductors: including the supply chain, broad industrial machinery manufacturing, and integrated packaging & photonics and
• Digitalization: system integration, AI, and cyber resilience

Programme

The programme is still very much under development, but we would like to give you a sneak peek of what is to come.

Monday, 20 April 

• Opening NL Pavilion
  Erwin Nijsse, Director General for Business and Innovation, will open the NL Pavilion and reflect on the strategic position of the Netherlands in global value chains.
• Semicon Roundtable
  The CEO Roundtable (by invitation only) on the semiconductor industry explores and underscores the importance of key technologies for technological sovereignty and economic growth.
• Presentations
  During presentations by Holland High Tech, Digital Holland, and Chemistry NL, the approach to key technologies as the engine for the industry of tomorrow will be explained. How is this being addressed in the Netherlands, and what opportunities lie ahead for the industry? After all, these technologies form the basis for new industrial applications and support societal transitions such as the energy transition, circularity, security, and strategic autonomy.
• NL Pavilion Participant Showcases
  Get acquainted with various Dutch showcases at the NLPavilion.
• Defense Industry Roundtable
  The Netherlands is working on strengthening the industrial and technological base, scaling up production capacity, and supporting strategic supply chains, in line with the Industry Letter and the Defense Strategy for Industry and Innovation (DSII). A high-level roundtable (by invitation only) is taking place regarding the role of the Dutch defense industry and NL-DUI cooperation, supplemented by matchmaking for defense-related companies.

Tuesday, 21 April

• Hydrogen for energy
  In Hanover, the Netherlands presents groundbreaking innovations in circular chemistry, advanced materials, and dual-use applications. During panel and roundtable sessions with German and European partners, we explore the sustainability and preservation of existing chemistry in Europe, as well as the joint scaling up of strategic materials.
• Dutch approach to Key Enabling Technologies - Key Technologies meetup
  In an informal setting, Peter Stolk (Chairman of Holland High Tech and Key Technologies (KIA ST)) and Leo Warmerdam (Managing Director of Holland High Tech), in collaboration with Niederlande Nachrichten, will guide participants through the Dutch Technology Strategy and the opportunities this offers for public-private partnerships, a strong Dutch and European industry, and future earning potential.
• Cognitive robotics: opportunities for the Netherlands and Europe
  In a strategic roundtable session, Dutch and German representatives from industry, technology, and policy will discuss the opportunities of collaborative and cognitive robotics. The focus will be on current challenges such as labor shortages, productivity pressure, raw material scarcity, and rapid technological developments, as well as the question of how robotics can contribute.
• Network with the Netherlands
  In an informal setting, you can get acquainted with the Dutch high-tech industry.

Wednesday, 23 April 

• Solution Lab Energy & Industrial Infrastructure, Pecém-Rotterdam-Duisport: accelerating EU-Brazil energy transition and industrial decarbonization with Andre Magalhaes, GIZ GmbH, Pecem Port and Pecem Complex, Wouter Demenint, Port of Rotterdam and Johannes Eng, Duisport. How do we continue building a green corridor?

Thursday, 24 April: to be decided

Key technologies as the engine for the industry of tomorrow

Across all themes, the Netherlands presents a broad range of key technologies: from high-tech systems & materials and smart manufacturing to AI, data, energy and hydrogen systems, advanced materials, chemical technology, photonics, quantum, and nanotechnology. These technologies form the basis for new industrial applications and support societal transitions such as the energy transition, circularity, security, and strategic autonomy.

Through daily sessions, launches, and showcases—from energy and chemistry to digitalization and defense—the Netherlands demonstrates how innovation is translated into tangible solutions. In this way, Dutch participation becomes a catalyst for new strategic partnerships, joint projects, and agreements that lead to sustainable impact. By joining forces, we are working together in Hanover on a stronger, more resilient, and sustainable European industry.