More than 1,000 technical professionals gathered on Thursday 27 March in the Van Nelle Factory for ZIE 2025: the South Holland Industry Event. This third edition, organised by Mikrocentrum and Hi Delta, brought together companies, knowledge institutions, governments and students around the urgent challenges and opportunities in the technology industry of South Holland. With more than 85 companies, educational institutions and governments present, ZIE 2025 focused on three current themes: chain collaboration, digitalisation and talent development. These themes were reflected in keynotes, parallel sessions and on the lively exhibition floor. All with the aim of further stimulating the innovative power of the region.
Cross-sector collaboration as key
The challenges facing the technology industry are enormous: climate change, geopolitical pressure, digitalization and labor shortages. These require cross-sector collaboration. This message was loud and clear during ZIE 2025, including from CEOs of companies such as ASML, Robin Radar Systems, VDL ETG and Hittech. They emphasized that true innovation is only possible if companies, knowledge institutions and governments work together.
Some 6,000 high-tech and manufacturing companies are active in South Holland. They deserve to work together much more intensively than is currently the case,”
says Judith van den Nieuwenhuijzen of Mikrocentrum.
Only by sharing knowledge and seeking connections can we make an impact on issues such as sustainability, digitalization and technological innovation.”
Strategic sectors with enormous potential
The companies and institutions present represented the full breadth of the South Holland technological industry. From aerospace to maritime, from high-tech systems & materials to defense and from mechanical engineering to horticulture. Sectors in which South Holland is an international leader. These sectors are further stimulated by regional initiatives such as the Action Agenda and field labs and are crucial for realizing a sustainable and strong economy.
During the official opening by Maaike Zwart (Municipality of Delft) and Petra de Groene (Municipality of Rotterdam), the updated Action Agenda for the Technological Industry in South Holland was presented. Arie van Andel, chairman of the EBZ taskforce Technological Industry, explained why this update is necessary:
“The world is changing rapidly. As a region, we need to be flexible, but also work together on a consistent course.”
More entrepreneurs, more connections
According to André Boer, director of Hi Delta, this edition of ZIE was bigger than ever:
We welcomed more high-tech entrepreneurs and more visitors than last year. The great thing is that companies are actively investigating which collaborations and technological developments can take them further.”
Lively trade fair floor with young talent and unexpected encounters
In addition to established names, start-ups, scale-ups and student teams were also very much present. The energy of young visitors and innovative entrepreneurs was striking. For example, Chiel Verbruggen, senior account manager Ports at the municipality of Schiedam, shares his experience:
I spoke to Lobster Robotics, a start-up with a pink underwater robot to inspect cables on the seabed. They were 30 people at the IQ pavilion. But I was also completely impressed by three students - HAVO and VWO - who were walking around with a lightning-fast robot for competitions. Great to see, really fun, new talent !”
Festive closing
Young Hi Delta organized its own arena in the middle of the exhibition floor especially for students and young professionals this year. Interesting pitches and presentations took place here by various students and young professionals, who presented their projects and challenges within the technical industry in South Holland. The common thread of the program was in line with the core of what Young Hi Delta is committed to: connecting, growing and creating opportunities.
ZIE 2025 was festively closed with the networking drinks Network & Drinks, offered by NL Space Campus.
Review
Would you like to watch the presentations again? Yes, you can!
