"techport plays a central role here"
Thanks to a Techport Innovation Tribe, Harsveld Apparatenbouw partnered with Symphony Wave Power over three years ago. This start-up develops and implements technologies that convert wave energy into electricity. After helping with the budget and making various installation components, the testing phase at Harsveld's site has been underway for a few months now. Director Rob de Visser: "This project is typical of what Techport does. They make sure everyone is looking in the same direction: schools, companies and governments. AND that there is cooperation."
Meeting the energy transition from one shared vision
Rob has known Techport for more than a decade: "Back then, we already knew that there would be a shortage of technical people, because of the ageing population and because young people are choosing technology less and less. To work more efficiently and join forces, it was important for companies, governments and schools to work better together."
He continues, "The energy transition was not in play then, but it was clear that changes were coming and that technical innovations would become very important for our region. Based on these principles, Techport was established."
the added value of techport
"We then took some people to Brainport in Eindhoven," Rob continues. "Because they had already set up something similar. After that visit, we joined Techport, because then we immediately saw the added value of Techport. We also think it's important to be involved in everything that's going on and happening in this region. Techport has ensured that cooperation through sharing knowledge, doing what you are good at, knowing what others are good at, has improved a lot."
Techport is the central point where everything comes together.
Rob - Harsveld Apparatenbouw
"Sustainability is at the heart of all our projects"
New director Paul: "The new management team has a slightly different approach. Especially in the projects we take up. We make the requirement in everything we do that it contributes to sustainability. Harsveld's corporate culture is good and we obviously want to retain that."
He continues, "Besides Symphony Wave Power, we also work with Blue Heart Energy. They produce heat pumps without the use of fossil fuels or harmful refrigerants, significantly reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. They were recently awarded a JTF grant for their project."
Paul concludes: "For us, we are still searching for what we want to do with Techport in the future, but there is no doubt that we are going to do something with Techport. My 'problem' is that I find many issues surrounding sustainability interesting. The other day, we took part in the Techport event 'Dating in the Hydrogen Chain' with great pleasure and interest. It is that my schedule does not allow it, but otherwise I would like to attend all Techport events. That's how interesting I find it!"