PET IJmond is the annual Technology Promotion Event where students from group 8 discover the opportunities that technology and engineering offer. From 7 to 9 October 2026 More than 1,500 students at Sporthal De Walvis in Beverwijk are getting to know technology and the training and professions associated with it through dozens of workshops.
The IJmond offers plenty of opportunities for technical talent. In sectors such as steel, the manufacturing industry, offshore, and green energy, well-educated professionals are needed to work on innovation and sustainability. PET IJmond lets students experience at an early age how versatile technology is and what future prospects a technical education in their own region can offer.
Companies, schools and training organizations provide practical workshops in which students get to work on their own. This way, they discover the connection between technology, an appropriate further education, and professions that are important for the future of the IJmond.
Parents are also involved in this. During the Parent & Child evening on Thursday 8 October 2026 They can, together with their child, attend workshops and learn about technical training and career opportunities.
Since 2025, Techport PET IJmond has been implemented on behalf of SWITCH IJmond/Zuid-Kennemerland. The event is made possible through the STO IJmond/Zuid-Kennemerland and Techkwadraat schemes.
PET IJmond has a long history. In 2019 it became part of the first Techport Technologieweek. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, the event continued: in 2020 more than 900 students participated in a digital PET IJmond show and a technology quiz.
PET IJmond thus forms a first step towards discovering and taking advantage of a conscious choice of training and ultimately a technical career in the IJmond.
“The IJmond region offers plenty of opportunities for young people who choose technology. From steel and offshore to automation and green energy: technical talent is in high demand. With PET IJmond, we allow children to experience early on how versatile technology is and what future prospects a technical education offers.”