Holland High-Tech: Top Talent for Top Performance

© ASTRON

Dutch companies and knowledge organisations in the top sector of HTSM (High Tech Systems and Materials) set themselves apart by their technological excellence, and are part of the world top in their market segments. High Tech Systems and Materials' ambition for growth is to double the export of 32 billion euros in 2009 to 77 billion euros in 2020, which is why the Holland High Tech House presented itself at the Hannover Messe this whole week. The Hannover Messe is the largest industrial trade fair in the world, and took place from 8 through 12 April. The Holland High Tech House was present in both Hall 2 with Research & Technology and Hall 4 with the Dutch supply industry. This is a clear platform on which to present the entire Dutch high-tech sector, with representatives from companies and knowledge organisations, and with that, the Netherlands as an important high-tech country.

NWO institute ASTRON was part of the Holland High Tech House at the Hannover Messe. The knowledge and expertise gained by research and development in radio astronomy allows ASTRON to design and build extremely sensitive antenna systems, sensor technology, embedded computing, smart software, nano photonics, low noise amplifiers, low-power micro electronics and precision technology. At the Hannover Messe, ASTRON showed, among other things, the technology involved in the International LOFAR Telescope and the SKA, the watercooled Uniboard currently being the ultimate high performance embedded processing platform ASTRON has to offer, and a photonic smart antenna demonstrator.

The picture shows the VIP-meeting at the Holland High Tech House held on Wednesday 10 April. We see Mr Bertholt Leeftink, Director-General of Industries and Innovation from the Ministry of Economic Affairs making a statement to Mrs Ineke Dezentje-Hamming (General director of FME) about the open communication in Dutch industries internally and their will to collaborate with other companies giving Dutch industries a tremendous advantage on finding high-tech solutions for the global challenges we are facing.

NWO Director General Hans de Groene (left of the far table) with his presence emphasized that the Advanced Instrumentation programmes of the NWO institutes firmly contribute to the Dutch High Tech Systems and Materials programme.