What happens when you bring together 30 young entrepreneurs from Norway and the Netherlands? 🌍
On Tuesday 14th April, they gathered in IJmuiden for a morning that was about more than just networking. It became an encounter where perspectives converged, regions understood each other better, and innovation became tangible.
The day began at the Techport Innovation Centre, where Programme Manager Gerik ten Berge guided the participants through Techport's role as a connecting force between industry, education and government in the North Sea Canal region. This was followed by inspiring contributions from Mark Denys (Tata Steel) on Green Steel and the energy transition, Sander Poppes (Symphony Wave Power) on sustainable energy generation from the sea, and Bastiaan Spruit (Z-Bridge) on smart solutions for infrastructure and asset management.
We then boarded the passenger ship Koningin Emma for a cruise past the lock complex and Tata Steel. 🚢 Not as tourists, but as entrepreneurs. On the water – away from the daily routine – space arose for conversations about major regional challenges: electrification, lack of space, sustainability, talent, and the speed of technological change. It was precisely there that differences and similarities between Norway and the Netherlands became apparent.
The morning concluded with a tour and lunch at Forteiland IJmuiden, where discussions deepened and translated into concrete ideas for collaboration and further steps.
The lessons from this exchange?
Although Norway and the Netherlands differ greatly in scale, energy sources, and spatial context — abundance versus scarcity — that very contrast proved valuable. At the same time, it became clear how strongly our countries resemble each other in what truly drives the energy transition forward: entrepreneurship, collaboration, and a willingness to experiment in uncertainty. Innovation begins not with answers, but with the right conversations — outside your own network and beyond fixed frameworks.
A special and valuable meeting, made possible by the commitment of everyone present.
