According to Mayor Tjeerd van Bekkum of Smallingerland, that's all right. ,,Our Innovatiecluster Drachten, or better Innovation Cluster North Netherlands, shows that this is a workable concept. I think this is one of the lifelines of the Northern Netherlands.’’
Over 200 invited guests witnessed the establishment of ‘Field lab Region of Smart Factories’. Under the direction of Hans Praat (NOM) and Siem Jansen (SNN), professors, provincial and municipal administrators, executives of large companies and lots of SMEs heard the opportunities of digitization for the industry outlined. According to Bertholt Leeftink, director general of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, necessary for maintaining jobs and strengthening economic activity in the Northern Netherlands. ’’The biggest risk of digitalization is not participating in it!''
Demo Square
In between the varied program of content, companies present numerous concrete examples on a demonstration square. Students from the computer vision department of the NHL show their drones with super cameras and a young enthusiastic company Iturnit presents itself as the ‘sower of technology’ to elementary school students. Of course, the Innovatiecluster Drachten companies Variass and Ziuz show the pill scanner IRIS and Irmato shows how to use high tech to make the best quality contact lenses.
Top Dutch sugar bread
Fries deputy Sander de Rouwe applauds northern cooperation. He reiterates once again that we must get rid of the ‘sugar loaf syndrome. ,,Sugarloaf never changes and does not cross borders. There is so much ambition, so much positive energy. Cooperation in the Northern Netherlands pays off!’’ Fellow director from Groningen Patrick Brouns emphasizes that the cooperation of companies in the Northern Netherlands is good for everyone. We have a large potential workforce that is eager to get to work. This collaboration makes that possible, really Top Dutch!’’