Holland High Tech Holland High Tech
Contact

NETWORKING EVENT 2026
Ignite Innovation: Accelerating Dutch High Tech

As Holland High Tech, we continue to play a key role in programming crucial innovations for our future and developing the ecosystems in hightech. We bring people together, create new connections. We are the driving force in the National Technology Strategy as well as the strategics markets.

Are you ready for an afternoon full of inspiration, innovation and insights? Meaningful encounters and ample networking opportunities at lunch and dinner? Then join us for our Holland High Tech NETWORKING EVENT 2026!

Register now

Ready to join us for the annual Holland High Tech NETWORKING EVENT? Secure your spot now to enjoy an afternoon of inspiration, innovation, insights and networking opportunities. Spots are limited, registration is required.

Date: Wednesday June 17, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 20:00
Location: Fokker Terminal, The Hague
Access: Entry is free, but registration is required

Register
Location
Programme
RECAP 2025

Ignite Innovation: accelerating Dutch High Tech

Technological innovation is no longer optional – it is foundational to resilience, autonomy, and sustainable growth. Holland High Tech brings together leaders across industry, knowledge institutions, and government to accelerate innovation in key enabling technologies. In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, collaboration is essential to maintain Europe’s strategic position and translate innovation into impact. This event – where real-world questions are transformed into technology and innovation opportunities for our ecosystem – is designed to connect, challenge, and catalyse the Dutch high-tech ecosystem.  

Date: Wednesday June 17, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 20:00
Location: Fokker Terminal, The Hague (NL)
Programme: See details below

Programme

12:30 - 13:30 | Networking lunch & Innovation Market

Come early, meet great likeminded colleagues in innovation to connect over good food. 

Innovation Market featuring a curated selection of Dutch high-tech innovation with stands by Holland High Tech Innovation Brokers, KIEM Hightech projects, student teams, SME Call High-Tech & Defence projects and National Growth Fund programmes.  

13:30 | Plenary Session | Part 1

Welcome & Opening by Simone van Trier, moderator, and Peter Stolk, chairman, Holland High Tech 

Strategic Dialogue | Status Quo by Peter Stolk, chairman, Holland High Tech & Leo Warmerdam, executive director, Holland High Tech 

Keynote | Cognitive Robotics as a strategic imperative (speaker to be confirmed) 
Why do we need smart manufacturing and particularly cognitive robotics to push our innovation in key enabling technologies? What are the necessary prerequisites to develop cognitive robotics and physical AI in high-tech industry? What are the next steps? 

Interview | Cognitive Robotics for innovation the Netherlands by Ton Peijnenburg, CTO, VDL Enabling Technologies Group & Programme council member, Holland High Tech 
Holland High Tech’s perspective on the opportunities of Cognitive Robotics within Industry 5.0. Ton Peijnenburg will discuss where the Netherlands and Europe can lead, where strategic control points can be developed, and which challenges must be addressed, including AI infrastructure, chips, raw materials, IoT integration, investment, and regulation. 

Break

15:00 | Breakout sessions

We offer you one round with a diverse and interesting choice of breakout sessions. Scroll below for the complete line-up.

16:00 | Plenary Session | Part 2

Interview | Building a future-proof economy by Heleen Herbert, Minister of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy (to be confirmed)
A concise look at what it takes to build a future-proof economy in a rapidly changing world. In this interview our minister of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy, shares her insights on the strategic choices ahead. From investing in innovation, technology and digitalisation to strengthening productivity and resilience, she outlines how the Netherlands can remain competitive, highlighting the National Technology Strategy, the strategic international markets, the Wennink-linked taskforces on future prosperity and business climate, European development, and the role of cognitive robotics. 

Interview | Computing our Future by Freeke Heijman-te Paske, Vice President, QuIC for Qblox & strategic advisor, Holland High Tech 
The Netherlands holds a strong position in the key enabling technologies that drive the Future of Compute, including advanced semiconductors, integrated photonics, quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, and high-performance computing. A national approach positions the Netherlands as the compute powerhouse it already is – connecting capabilities, lowering system integration barriers, and strengthening its strategic role across the value chain. For Holland High Tech, the needs of industry – including startups and scale-ups – are central to turning innovation into real impact. 

Interview | High Tech Security for Innovation by Maarten Smidts, Director Industry and Innovation, Ministry of Defence (invited)
Talking about current developments in innovation for our autonomy and and security in our geopolitical climate. How do we work together towards upscaling innovation. 

Presentation SME Hightech & Defense call projects  

Final Remarks by Peter Stolk, chairman, Holland High Tech & Leo Warmerdam, executive director, Holland High Tech 

17:30 - 20:00 | Networking Dinner & Innovation Market

We end the day with an informal Networking Dinner & drinks. A great moment to meet new people, continue your lunch conversation, or catch up with your network. And if you haven't had a chance to visit the Innovation Market yet, it's still open for you to explore.

Breakout Sessions

Each session brings together strategic insight, real-world applications, and expert perspectives. 

Towards accelerated dual-use innovation ecosystems. This session explores how high-tech SMEs can engage in defence innovation and contribute to strategic autonomy in Europe. 

Speakers:  

  • Carla Andela | Policy Officer for Knowledge and Innovation (Space), Ministry of Defence 

  • LKOL Jasper Heeren PhD MSc | Defence Innovation & Production Orchestrator (Smart Materials), Ministry of Defence

Converging technologies shaping next-generation computing; from semiconductors to quantum and photonics, this session addresses how hybrid compute systems will define the future. 

Speakers 

  • Freeke Heijman-te Paske | Vice President, QuIC for Qblox & strategic advisor, Holland High Tech 

  • Gerard van der Zon | operational director, Holland High Tech 

From roadmap to execution: Semicon Vision 2035. A strategic dialogue on strengthening Europe’s semiconductor position and defining actionable next steps. 

Speakers 

  • Arco Krijgsman | Head of Public Private Partnerships, ASML & Programme council member, Holland High Tech

  • Representative | Semicon businesses in the Netherlands (to be confirmed) 

From research to industrial deployment. This session focuses on cases scaling cognitive robotics in real-world applications and strengthening the Dutch position in this domain. 

Speakers 

  • Ton Peijnenburg | CTO, VDL Enabling Technologies Group & Programme council member, Holland High Tech  

  • Representatives | Robotics in the Netherlands (to be confirmed) 

From policy frameworks to implementation. Updates on how action agendas and innovation coalitions translate strategy into impact. 

Speakers 

  • Leo Warmerdam | executive director, Holland High Tech 

  • Representative | Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy (to be confirmed) 

Towards scalable and collaborative circular value chains. This session for SME’s explores how circularity can be embedded in high-tech systems through collaboration and innovation. 

Speakers 

  • Hans van der Weijde | Director Strategy, Programmes and external Collaborations, Tata Steel & Programme council member, Holland High Tech 

  • Esther Kersten | Founder and CEO, ImpactX, Board member, Holland High Tech 

  • Representative | Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy (to be confirmed) 

  • Additional case speakers (to be confirmed) 

Bridging research and industry for practical innovation. This session highlights how applied research contributes to innovation capacity, particularly for SMEs. 

Speakers 

  • Representatives of HBO’s in applied research in key enabling technologies (to be confirmed) 

Voices shaping the Dutch innovation ecosystem are interviewed in live-recorded podcasts bij IO+, capturing current developments and forward-looking perspectives. 

Speakers: 

  • Host: IO+ 

  • Guests: selected high-level speakers (based on current developments) 


Fokker-terminal

Location

This year we will host our event at the Fokker Terminal in The Hague, a monumental and inspiring industrial building. Inside, there's an impressive 9 meter high airplane hangar, formerly used by students to study aircraft mechanics.

The venue is located at Binckhorstlaan 249 and is easily accessible by public transport (which we encourage!) from both The Hague Central Station and Holland Spoor. Parking is available on-site, including charging stations. Click on the button below and scroll down for a detailed description of how to get there.

RECAP 2025

Last year we brought together innovators, partners, and policymakers for an inspiring NETWORKING EVENT centered on the Dutch National Technology Strategy and the transformative power of Key Enabling Technologies. Want to know more? Take a look at the RECAP of our 2025 NETWORKING EVENT.

Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief