On Thursday, Dec. 4, at Spark Holland Emmen once again hosted the semi-annual ICD matchmaking event. A group of about 42 master's students from the University of Groningen (RUG) participated in this edition, aimed at connecting technical talent with high-tech companies in the northern Netherlands.
The students came from the Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering & Management majors. In addition, a number of undergraduate students from IEM joined. For them, this event is the starting point of the search for an internship or assignment, ranging from undergraduate internship and design assignment to research assignment.
After a warm welcome by Spark Holland opened Dr. Nick Szirbik the program. Then gave Mauricio Muñoz-Arias a pitch on the Autonomous Systems EngD program, a track that closely matches the growing demand for expertise in autonomous systems.
In the first pitch round, eight companies from the Innovation Cluster presented their capabilities:
Philips, Batenburg Bones, Viventris, Demcon, Astron, NTS Drachten, Comecer and host Spark Holland.
The pitches offered a broad picture of the technical challenges and opportunities within the high-tech ecosystem of the Northern Netherlands.
Students then engaged in discussions with representatives of the companies. In these 1-on-1 conversations, they were able to ask questions, share their own project ideas and explore which assignments best fit their education and interests. This direct interaction almost always leads to new matches for internships, design projects and research projects.
The new collaborations created here should lead to students being able to start within one of the ICD companies by the spring of 2026. In this way, students strengthen their practical experience and companies gain access to motivated technical talent.
The afternoon concluded with a tour of Spark Holland. The students were given a behind-the-scenes look at the company's innovative systems and processes. With this tour, an inspiring and educational afternoon came to an end.
This matchmaking event underscores the Innovatiecluster Drachten's continued commitment to connecting academic knowledge with the practical needs of the high-tech industry. Bringing students and companies together creates valuable opportunities for innovation, talent development and the continued growth of the technical sector in the Northern Netherlands.
