Why have I never seen this before? Amazement and enthusiasm was omnipresent at the TEKNOWLOGY innovation market, where researchers and academic start-ups showed prototypes and demo models of the latest innovations.
More than four hundred people gathered in deFabrique in Maarssen on 31 May, with several hundred more watching online: researchers, people from the business world, policymakers and a prince. They were all there to discuss one thing: innovation - and how science is preparing for the future.
TEKNOWLOGY aims to bring together, strengthen and connect the technological-scientific field with other disciplines and stakeholders from outside science. Stimulating meeting and cooperation increases the potential impact of technological innovations on society.
Interdisciplinary programme
How can we further strengthen the foundation of technological-scientific research in the Netherlands? This question kicked off the day in deFabrique. ‘More money', was one of the solutions, brought with a smile, but also: better cooperation and more joint direction. The main stage was then filled with young researchers from various disciplines, who told those present about their fields of research and innovation. Throughout the day, the breadth of science and the technological promises for the future were showcased on other stages, in various parallel sessions and at an extensive innovation market. From mathematics to metamaterials and from medical technology to innovations in agriculture: everything was on show. It is typical for TEKNOWLOGY how interdisciplinary both the research and the innovations are and how many areas of science it touches, said speaker Auke Hoekstra:
My research is very interdisciplinary because I find that certain challenges don't care about disciplines. They usually have a social component, technical component a legal component and you need to solve them all to give a good answer to a societal challenge.
Meet, network and connect
TEKNOWLOGY is the place where researchers, policy makers, financers and users of technological innovations meet each other annually in a festival atmosphere. After all, this low-threshold way of meeting, for example at the innovation market or at the scientific photo exhibition, produces the best ideas.
There was so much to see and experience today. It is about feeling the energy that was there, the creativity, the originality, the knowledge. There is such an impressive amount of talent in the Netherlands.
Will you be there next year? TEKNOWLOGY will return on 27 June 2023, again at deFabrique in Utrecht.
