Techport chairman Mark Denys: "IJmond is a unique example of the challenges and opportunities of energy transition in the manufacturing industry."

"Chairmanship of Techport is valuable investment"
Mark says: "I strongly believe in the mission of Techport. That's why I got involved shortly after its inception and was soon asked to chair the board and steering committee, first informally and then formally two years later. What many people don't know is that board positions at Techport are unpaid, but not optional. Each week I spend from two hours to sometimes two days on it. Fortunately, my employer Tata Steel, one of the founders of Techport, also sees this as a valuable investment and gives me the space to fulfill this role. I think it is important to contribute to inspiring technical education and an innovative and green industry in the IJmond region. The chairmanship of Techport is a great honor for me!"

Techport's playing field broadened considerably
In recent years, Techport's playing field has broadened considerably due to the growing focus on energy transition and innovation. Mark emphasizes that cooperation between companies is becoming increasingly important: "In the beginning, many companies were still somewhat reluctant, but with projects such as the Fieldlab Smart Maintenance and Fieldlab Smart Energy, we have achieved much more cooperation on open innovation. That is the strength of the Techport network, but also of the other supporting partners, municipalities and the province. Over the next decade, the focus will shift even more to sustainability and digitalization. "It is essential to also connect innovation projects with education. That way we bring young people in touch with the latest developments in the sector. That's super interesting for them."