Leo Warmerdam, managing director Holland High Tech:
It is essential that we now specify the steps needed to produce smarter.
In the manufacturing industry, you increasingly hear the term “dark factory”: a factory where no people are walking around, no lights are on, and everything runs automatically all the time. A place where robots, autonomous machines, and software take over the work.
It sounds futuristic, but this scenario is already a reality. Dark factories are in full swing in China. For example, Xiaomi's AI factory produces one smartphone per second completely autonomously. The Netherlands is also taking cautious steps in this direction, as was evident from the various presentations during the innovation session. This was organized by Holland High Tech, in collaboration with the NOM, Horizon, Innovation Cluster Drachten (ICD), and other partners. It was an afternoon packed with concrete tools and insights for further automating the manufacturing industry. It wasn't just presentations with slides. Attendees were treated to a live demonstration of 4NE1: a humanoid robot from Neura Robotics, specially developed for industrial processes. In addition, attendees provided valuable input in breakout sessions for innovation roadmaps that will further shape the ecosystem.
The power of the Northern Netherlands
The afternoon was kicked off by Ronald van Es, program manager at Holland High Tech. He welcomed the participants and explained the program. Joost Krebbekx, program manager of Innovation Cluster Drachten, then outlined the power of the North when it comes to making the Dutch manufacturing industry future-proof:
We're showing off our peacock feathers.
Krebbekx highlighted living tech legends from the North, such as Bluetooth inventor Jaap Haartsen. He also mentioned examples of leading manufacturing companies from the North:
The region is home to some impressive flagship factories. In 2007, Scania opened a location in Meppel, specializing in plastic parts for truck assemblies. Philips Drachten is one of Philips' largest development and production centers in Europe.
A rich history, then. André Harmens, ecosystemdeveloper HTSM at NOM, expects the North's high-tech industry to receive a significant boost in the coming years:
The new AI Factory in the former Niemeyer tobacco factory in Groningen promises to become the heart of AI innovation in the Netherlands. Here, models can be trained and knowledge built up, completely independently of American parties, thanks to our own hardware.
There is no lack of ambition in the Northern Netherlands. Krebbekx:
The Northern Netherlands wants to become one of the four leading high-tech regions in the country. Autonomous factories are part of that.
Holland High Tech: a connecting factor
Leo Warmerdam, managing director of Holland High Tech, then took the floor. He began with a clear message:
Urgency is required, if the Netherlands is to remain competitive. It is essential that we now specify the steps needed to produce more intelligently.
Warmerdam emphasized the role of Holland High Tech as a connecting link in the Dutch high-tech ecosystem and how the top sector links initiatives to the National Technology Strategy. Holland High Tech has an entire innovation domain dedicated to Smart Industry.
With thirteen strategic programs and a total budget of €131 million, Holland High Tech stimulates the high-tech sector and the associated innovations that are useful in autonomous factories. Warmerdam announced that a number of new calls will be opened in the first quarter of 2026. For example, the NWO HTSM call will start in Q1 2026, with an emphasis on quantum and smart materials, among other things. Two SME calls will also start on January 5, one for high-tech and one in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense. So there will be plenty of innovation stimulation.
The director is also looking forward to a meeting on January 26 in which Holland High Tech will take the lead. The 10 new Action Agendas will be presented, based on the 10 priority key technologies of the National Technology Strategy.
Leo Warmerdam, managing director Holland High Tech:
The objectives for 2035 will be translated into the concrete steps that are needed in the coming years.
Autonomous factories in the Netherlands: how far have we come?
Warmerdam handed over to Jeroen Broekhuijsen, CTO Smart Industry at TNO. Broekhuijsen outlined a major challenge for the Dutch manufacturing industry:
Staff shortages, declining productivity, and the need for sustainability are putting pressure on factories, machine companies, and software companies.
According to him, digitization and automation are part of the solution. He emphasizes that there is still much room for improvement in this area in the Netherlands. At the same time, many companies within the country's borders are already demonstrating what is possible. For example Auping has developed a new, largely robotized production line for circular mattresses.
