Among other things, these investments will expand research facilities, promote technology and increase employment. Delegate Sander de Rouwe sees the collaboration of companies he sees as a way to move forward economically as a province. According to him, Innovatiecluster Drachten is ‘a city on the mountain. ’Together the participants are able to bring top machines to Friesland. Otherwise they would not have succeeded.„ De Rouwe notes that entrepreneurs often find it difficult to work together. ,,Innovatiecluster Drachten is a great example which shows that cooperation is possible and that it pays off.”
Innovatiecluster Drachten, founded in 2012 by 6 companies in collaboration with the province and municipality, has now grown to 15 participating companies and is still growing. In addition to innovation, the business cluster is committed to close cooperation with educational and knowledge institutions. ,,This is how we try to reach young people and interest them in technology,” explains cluster chairman Kor Visscher. ,,We help training courses, for example, to better meet the demand of the business community.” Girslday is a great example where technical companies and educational institutions jointly open their doors to introduce girls to engineering, STEM and ICT. ”And for higher education, we organize the Inventor Competition. This year for the fifth time, where HBO students from North, East and Central Netherlands compete with each other for the best technical invention."