‘ICD dynamics bring companies and talents together’
The companies of Innovatiecluster Drachten (ICD) are extensively digitized, produce smart and highly flexible. Moreover, they conduct numerous educational programs in cooperation with knowledge institutions. The ‘field lab’ status that the ICD is entitled to hold is justifiable confirmation of their exemplary role for the future manufacturing industry.
He is the type of knowledge worker who did not stay in Fryslân after his studies. His professional life takes place all over the country. ’’But I still have family in Wijnjewoude and visit the northern Netherlands regularly. Partly because Innovatiecluster Drachten does nice things,'' he says. Program director Smart Industry and director of TNO Egbert-Jan Sol. On behalf of Smart Industry, founded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and consisting of TNO, the Chamber of Commerce, Koninklijke Metaal Unie, trade association FME and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Sol handed out a plaque on Thursday, Jan. 23, that goes with the official status of Smart Industry Fieldlab. For that is how Innovatiecluster Drachten may call itself from now on.
Practice environment
Field labs are practical environments in which companies and knowledge institutions develop, test and implement Smart Industry solutions in a targeted manner. They also form an environment in which people learn to apply these solutions. In addition, they encourage and strengthen collaboration with research, education and policy. The Netherlands has 45 Smart Industry Field Labs, in which more than 500 companies, knowledge institutions and governments work together. Examples in the Northern Netherlands are the testing ground for the latest generation of mobile internet 5Groningen, shared smart factory Technologies Added in Emmen and the collaboration of the Northern manufacturing industry Region of Smart Factories.
scarcity
Sol outlines a not very rosy but realistic future scenario for the technical manufacturing industry and sees field labs as necessary help for companies to get well through the next 10 to 20 years. ’’For those who want to get started with digitization or other smart-industry techniques, it can sometimes be difficult to do so practically,’’ Sol explains. ’’A Smart Industry Fieldlab helps and encourages to apply smart technology and digitalization. For new business opportunities, for example. But getting here is complex. Due to changing legislation and effects of the past economic crisis, we now have to deal with a large group of workers retiring. At the same time, far fewer young people are flowing into the labor market. Over the next 10 to 20 years, this will create a scarcity in technical occupations. And what do you do then as an employer?’’ Current employees of around 40 years old have completed their education without internet and therefore often lack digital skills. But they are the ones who now have to work with the Internet of Things (IoT). This problem is bigger than the scarcity in the labor market, because these people will continue to work for you for at least another 25 years.'' Sol therefore believes that productivity must double in the next few years to meet the scarcity of technical personnel. ''Today's 40-somethings will be retired in 25 years, which means today's 20-somethings will have to do double the work in 25 years. This means upskilling current employees, and a field lab like Innovatiecluster Drachten can help with that. The ICD has the dynamics needed for this: retraining skills in current workers and ensuring that technical talents keep up.''
Share in confidence
Change is happening so fast, no one can do it alone anymore. ’’That's why you have to share knowledge and experience with others, and the companies of Innovatiecluster Drachten are pretty good at that,’’ Sol said. ’’In America, companies mainly innovate top down and keep everything to themselves. We do that differently in Europe. The Netherlands is a real innovation country, but not top down. On the basis of mutual trust, we share knowledge on the shop floor and assume that the other is not ripping you off. After all, it's better to cooperate, share knowledge and innovate than to compete with each other.'' In the Eindhoven region, for example, Sol says cooperation is naturally good, which is why this region has grown very fast. ''And you don't rip each other off, because you meet again on the soccer field, in the pub and in church. This phenomenon is more important than subsidies and exists in the form of a network or ecosystem in the Northern Netherlands as well. And Innovatiecluster Drachten plays a leading role in this.''
More information about Smart Industry Field Labs.