Event for the Limburg Manufacturing Industry 2025

The Limburg Employers Association, Land of Makers, the Province of Limburg and VDL Nedcar cordially invite you to an exclusive entrepreneurial event where the strength of our region will be linked to the mission of Defense.

During this afternoon we will bring together entrepreneurs from the Limburg manufacturing industry and Defense. We explore opportunities for cooperation in the areas of innovation, production capacity, security and strategic supply chains.

Get inspired by stories of entrepreneurs who are already working with Defense and engage in a conversation about current themes such as technological innovation, financing and employment.

Preliminary program

14:00 PM - Welcome by:

• Addy Lutgenau, director LWV
• Tys van Elk, managing director VDL Nedcar
• Dick Moerkens, chairman Land of Makers

14.05 - 15.15 - Tour of the VDL Nedcar site (in groups)

14.45 - 15.15 hrs - Reception with coffee/tea and Limburg flan

15.15 - 17.15 hrs - Plenary program:

• Gijs Tuinman, Secretary of State for Defense - Opening with vision of cooperation with industry
• Tys van Elk, Director VDL Nedcar - Host and inspirer from Limburg's manufacturing industry
• Stephan Satijn, Provincial Executive of Limburg
• Raymond Knops, Chairman NIVD - About the crucial role of defense industry in national security
• General-Major Ernst Dobbenberg, Co-chairman National Defense-Business Platform - Bridging the gap between the armed forces and business

Panel Discussion - Technology, Collaboration and Security During the event, we will engage with experts from the field on innovation, collaboration and the role of technology in a changing world.

• Geert Jansen, Business Development Manager at Neways He shares his views on technology collaboration with the Department of Defense and how innovations from the high-tech industry are translated into practical applications in the armed forces.
• VDL Defentec VDL Defentec develops and produces technological solutions for military and special vehicles, from communications and sensors to advanced IT. The company offers life cycle management and engineering, with a pragmatic approach and close cooperation with government and industry, and holds the ABDO 2006 security clearance.
• Third panelist - to be announced soon We are adding a third party soon to further enrich the conversation.

In conversation with each other - guided by experts on:

• Cooperation with Defense
• Technological opportunities
• Financing opportunities
• Labor market and employment opportunities

17:15 - 6 p.m. - Networking drinks

About the speakers

• Tys van Elk - Director at VDL Nedcar. VDL is a strategic player in the manufacturing industry with increasing involvement in defense manufacturing and innovation.
• Stephan Satijn - Deputy of Limburg and experienced administrator at the intersection of economy and innovation.
• Raymond Knops - Former Secretary of State for Defense, now chairman of the NIVD (Netherlands Defence and Security Industry). He is committed to ensuring a strong position for Dutch companies in the defense chain.
• General Major Ernst Dobbenberg - Co-chairman of the National Defense Business Platform. He represents the top brass of the armed forces and sees cooperation with the business community as crucial to the future-proofing of Defense.
• Geert Jansen - Business Development Manager at high-tech company Neways. He builds bridges between technology developers and defense applications.
• Chairman of the day: Peter Eltink of VDL Nedcar. From his role in transforming the Born industrial site into a future-proof Smart Manufacturing Ecosystem, he brings substantive acuity, strategic insight and extensive experience in strategic collaboration. He guides the conversation with focus and connection.

Subscribe: register before Oct. 21 via the LWV app.