Aftermovie

Watch the aftermovie of the EVENT Hightech Dutch Glory here.

During this afternoon, we looked at what we have achieved together with our ecosystem and how the high-tech sector can continue to contribute to an innovative, sustainable and competitive economy. During his keynote, Marc emphasized that innovation is not a sprint, but a marathon, and that collaboration in the triple helix remains crucial for a liveable, circular and energy-resistant Netherlands.

Moderator Simone van Trier kicked off the day and gave the floor to Leo Warmerdam, General Manager Holland High Tech:

We have invited you here to the Glass Cathedral. I hope that you will be pleasantly surprised by this environment, just like we were. The Glass Cathedral was inaugurated in 1956. At that time, this was the place for Philips to do all their glass innovation.

An important takeaway from Leo Warmerdam's introduction:

How are we going to ensure in the Netherlands that the next companies such as ASML emerge, that they can develop as growth diamonds, that they can become big and successful. And once that has been achieved, how can we ensure that they take root in Dutch society? That ultimately, even if they achieve international success, they will remain truly important for our Dutch economy.

Keynote Tjark Tjin-A-Tsjoi

Then keynote Tjark Tjin-A-Tsjoi (CEO TNO) took the floor. He spoke about the role of innovation in strengthening the competitiveness of the Netherlands and the new strategy of TNO.

In the context of the high-tech, systems and materials sector, Holland Hightech and NXTGEN Hightech have achieved a great deal. A good foundation has been laid to do what needs to be done. These are long-term processes. You set something out, you start something, but that will probably take decades to really bear fruit.

There are actually three points that we need to be alert to. Firstly: the business climate in the Netherlands really needs to improve. The second point is that more start-ups need to be able to grow into scale-ups and thirdly we need to pay attention to the fact that a very large part of the Dutch economy consists of SMEs and service sectors.

The solution is actually that the economy needs to renew itself. Share by new companies that become successful, of which ASML is of course a real success story in its own right. You won't have that every time. But we can try to create BSML, CSML and DSML. So that you are not dependent and so that our economy does not become a one-trick-pony. That requires that we work very hard on our startup scale-up engine.

If you want to get this chain going, you need venture capital very hard. We also have to start seeing the financiers as part of the solution.

Panel discussion | Sectors have their say

The panel discussion then took place with panel members Arno van Mourik, Edward Voncken, Brigit van Dijk - van de Reijt and Hans Büthker. In this panel discussion, panel members gave their view on the keynote by Tjark Tjin-A-Tsjoi.

Brigit van Dijk - van de Reijt (CEO, Brabant Development Agency):

If you want to be a highly innovative country, more resources are needed. Which we are, despite the disappointing R&D expenditure. Capital is part of the answer. I myself believe very strongly in that public-private partnership, to indeed set aside those developments that have not always proven to be profitable.

Hans Büthker (CEO, Neways Electronics International):

You could also say that the glass is half full, but we really have to get to work together now. That consistency to continue to contribute to R&D spending, that is very important.

Arno van Maurik (CEO & Founder, Airborne) on Tjark Tjin-A-Tsjoi's keynote:

There is more to the growth of scale-ups than just financing. Financing is of great importance, not so much the amount but the right amount per investment moment.

Edward Voncken (CEO, KMWE Group B.V.):

My favorite topic is: make sure the engineer comes to the floor and that the floor comes to the engineer. When I started at Philips, I had to do an internship in the factory... Due to all the developments, we are disconnecting that. So... Involving MBO is the key to ultimately converting the innovations. What is conceived, must be made... I would include that in the discussions in the R&D team, that production technology is also included there.

Brigit van Dijk - van de Reijt:

I see that in the Netherlands we are leaving a lot of knowledge behind, so I advocate growing that funnel, hopefully to scale-ups, to really broaden it. Collaborating with knowledge institutions, TNO and the business community, that is where the opportunity lies.

Hans Büthker:

Ultimately, I think we benefit from a very strong development base in the Netherlands. At the same time, we need to listen carefully to our international customers. Making choices about where you deploy internationally is important. We are a powerful developing country. We are always involved in product development. But production sometimes takes place somewhere else, or half of it.

Arno van Mourik:

Ultimately, it is about your commercial teams being in the market, listening to the needs of the customer, then feeding this back into your organization so that you can adapt. At the same time, it is important that your stakeholders understand and move along in that direction.

The role of the government

Erwin Nijsse (Director-General Business and Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs) on the role of the government:

Where do we want to go with our economy, with our society, with the Netherlands in Europe? We share the same analysis of bottlenecks with Europe. In Germany and France you hear the same story. That is an opportunity, we can achieve a lot together. Europe sometimes moves slowly, at the same time you also notice that there is an enormous urgency in Brussels. So that is also what it is about: how can we as the Netherlands focus on the right spearheads?

The importance of the 5 i’s

Watch Marc's full keynote here.Marc sloot de middag af met een keynote:

The 5 I's stand for innovation, industrialization, investment, internationalization and influence. Innovation, we have already talked about that a lot, without innovation the circle of I's does not start. Innovation is the basis. But innovation without industrialization has no value, no valorization. The third I is investment. Other speakers also referred to that. If we do not dare to invest, especially in scale-ups, then we will not have future success. The fourth I is influence. That in those new value chains of technologies and applications that will emerge internationally, we have unique points in the chain, unique control points that no one can ignore. The last I is internationalization. How can we also bring our innovations and the associated ecosystem to the fore abroad? We have paid a lot of attention to that. I am happy that we have managed to create that awareness at home and abroad. That together with control points gives you influence as a country and that leads to a place at the table.

Let us all continue to promote innovation. In 1600, our prosperity was already due to technological inventions and as far as I am concerned, that is still the case. We must continue to promote this. I will no longer do this personally on behalf of Holland High Tech, but of course at other times and on other stages. I have enjoyed the past 13 years. Thank you all for the great collaboration.

Leo Warmerdam then asked Peter Stolk to come forward and the baton was passed from Marc as figurehead to Peter Stolk as chairman of Holland High Tech as of January 1, 2025. Watch the video of the transfer below.

Peter Stolk:

I am very honored to take over Marc Hendrikse's role within Holland High Tech. Much has been achieved in the past 13 years and I am very excited to continue building on innovation together with the organization and all parties involved in our ecosystem. Our high-tech, systems and materials sector plays a crucial role in the necessary transitions for the future of the Netherlands. I believe that with the things we do - public-private partnerships, the key technologies - we can really contribute to a safe, resilient, energy-resistant, sustainable, circular, strong Netherlands. I have a lot of admiration for what Marc has achieved together with everyone from the top sector in the past 13 years. I realize that I have big shoes to fill. I will get to work with a lot of energy and ambition to continue Marc's legacy. Together with the team of Holland High Tech and all of you!