Event | Holland High Tech NETWORKING EVENT 2026

NETWORKING EVENT 2026

Ignite Innovation: Accelerating Dutch High Tech

Date: Wednesday June 17th 2026 | 12:30 - 20:00

Location: Fokker Terminal The Hague (NL)

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!

Click here to register

Programme

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.

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, demos, 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 | Why we must accelerate in Cognitive Robotics by Lukas M. Ziegler followed by Q&A with audience

Looking towards 2035 and beyond… What are the necessary prerequisites to develop Industrial AI and Cognitive Robotics in high-tech industry further? What are the next steps both in your own productions and how does Industrial AI help us with skilled labour? How can we as innovators help the development of the key enabling technologies while working towards the future of European autonomy? How do we work together, both internal and with partners to take the next steps in this key initiative? An in depth talk about innovation, integration and cases from the high tech industry.

Lukas Ziegler is one of the leading European voices on industrial and cognitive robotics. Since 2018, he has gone inside 150+ robotics companies – including ABB, KUKA, Siemens, FANUC, Universal Robots, Boston Dynamics, and NVIDIA – translating what he sees on factory floors and in research labs into stories the industry follows closely.

His focus sits where industrial robotics meets cognitive capabilities: machines that perceive, reason, and adapt, reshaping European manufacturing, logistics, and high-tech production – with the Netherlands' Brainport region forming one of the continent's strongest clusters. Through Botnanza, his PR and venture-scouting studio dedicated to robotics and physical AI, he works with robotics companies, founders, and venture capital firms across the ecosystem – helping them tell their story, raise capital, and find their next customers.

A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Lukas has delivered keynotes at the United Nations' AI For Good summit, automatica, and Hannover Messe. His reporting has reached over 300 million people and built a community of 250,000+ engineers, founders, and operators across Europe and beyond. His perspective combines market insight, startup experience and a strong ability to translate emerging technologies into strategic relevance for companies, investors and policymakers.

Interview | Cognitive Robotics for innovation the Netherlands by Ton Peijnenburg, CTO, VDL Enabling Technologies Group & Programme council member, Holland High Tech

This interview highlights Holland High Tech’s perspective on the opportunities of Cognitive Robotics within Industry 5.0. Programme council member Ton Peijenburg 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.

The conversation will also explore the next steps for companies looking to apply cognitive robotics in manufacturing and for businesses aiming to build new positions and value within the industrial value chain.

Interview | Building a future-proof economy by Tjerk Opmeer, Deputy director-general for Business & Innovation, ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy

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.

Break

15:15 | Breakout Sessions

Each session brings together strategic insight, real-world applications, and expert perspectives. For more information, scroll down to the panels below

16:25 | Plenary Session | Part 2

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.

Speech | High Tech Security for Innovation by Derk Boswijk, State Secretary for Defence, Ministry of Defence

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

Esther Kersten (board member Holland High Tech)

Speaker Industry and Innovation, Ministry of Defence (invited)

Presentation SME High-Tech call and the SME Defence call projects followed by a photo moment.

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.