On September 22, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of 25 students from the Hoch Schule Emden – Leer (HSEL), specialized in Industrial Automation and Data Science. The group was represented by, among others, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Kreutz, president of HSEL. Together with Binne Visser (chairman of ICD) and Michiel Kasteleijn (director of IWCN), he officially launched the collaboration within the new program 'Internationally Connected', supported by Interreg.

Our program offered an exciting mix of lectures and factory tours, with themes ranging from Factory Robotics to Sustainable Energy.

The highlight of the day were the tours and lectures given by leading experts from companies such as Variass, Philips, IWCN, Resato, BD, Spark Holland and Ventura. Special thanks to all speakers and companies for their valuable contributions!

This 'High Tech Safari' offered the international students of HSEL a unique opportunity to gain insight into the world of robotics and innovation in the Northern Netherlands. During the safari, the students were able to meet various ICD companies and were informed about the many opportunities for working and studying in the Northern Netherlands.

Variass, a leading company in the field of robotics, shared their expertise during this inspiring day. Their presentation on cobots, collaborative robots, was received with great enthusiasm and showed the students the latest developments in the field of robotics.

Philips also gave a promotional presentation followed by a tour of the factory, after which the bus continued to the other participating companies for even more high-tech experience.

This collaboration between HSEL, ICD and IWCN within the 'Internationally Connected' program is an example of the growing international collaboration and knowledge exchange in the region. It offers students the opportunity to gain international experience and broaden their horizons.

We thank everyone involved, speakers and companies, for making this successful day possible. It was a valuable experience for both the students and the participating companies, and we look forward to the next 'High Tech Safari'!