Techport as a unique example from the region
Over the past year, we have teamed up with various companies and educational institutions to celebrate Techport's 10th anniversary. Mark Denys, chairman of Techport, concludes the story series. He has been chairman for eight years and has witnessed Techport's development up close like no other. We also ask him what direction we will take in the future and how far we are in achieving the mission of becoming the very first green industrial zone in the Netherlands by 2030.
Presidency as a valuable investment
Mark says: "I strongly believe in Techport's mission. 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 non-committal. Per 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 fulfil this role. I think it is important to contribute to inspiring technology education and an innovative and green industry in IJmond. Chairing Techport is a great honour for me!"
success through joint efforts
Techport began 10 years ago with the main aim of addressing the shortage of technical staff. "Engaging young people in engineering and motivating them to get a technical education has always been a key core activity, and we are doing it well."
Think of the annual PET events (Promotional Event Technology) and Techport Technology Week, where we enthuse young people about engineering. "It is great to see that in our region, 40 per cent of young people choose to study engineering, which is much higher than the national average. This is due to our joint efforts with companies and schools, I am convinced."
IJmond is a unique example of the challenges and opportunities of energy transition in the manufacturing industry.
Mark Denys - Chairman Techport
"techport's playing field has broadened considerably"
In recent years, Techport's playing field has broadened considerably with the growing focus on energy transition and innovation. Mark emphasises 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 10 years, the focus will shift even more towards sustainability and digitalisation. "It is essential to also connect innovation projects with education. This way, we bring young people into contact with the latest developments in the sector. That is super interesting for them
the ijmond as a unique example
Mark is optimistic about Techport's future. The challenges are great, but the approach is an example for others. "IJmond is a unique example of the challenges and opportunities of energy transition in the manufacturing industry. Offshore wind, hydrogen, green steel and much more. Important projects are being carried out here that directly contribute to a sustainable future for the Netherlands. There is plenty of attention to new technologies and infrastructure, and I see increasing attention to the social side of the energy transition through additional funding for education and retraining programmes."
Techport brings parties together around all these challenges. "We are pragmatic and work 'bottom-up': we look for good ideas that fit into the big picture and put our shoulders to the wheel. This makes IJmond and Techport an example for other regions. Techport is here to stay!"
