Innovative aircraft stairs, smart water treatment and reservists trained to intelligence officer. The north smells opportunities for Defense. Companies, education and government are joining forces to land the billions of military euros here.
The armed forces has billions to spend and is rapidly looking for innovative solutions, smart technology and reliable suppliers. They are present in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, but then companies have to know where to knock on the door. And that is difficult, because the military organization and SMEs or education, they are completely different worlds.
How the region can benefit from working for the military organization is discussed in the second episode of Stand van Northern Netherlands, the economy program of RTV Noord, RTV Drenthe and Omrop Fryslân, together with the Social Economic Council of the Northern Netherlands.
Marnix Moderman, regional manager of Mindbase Noord (Military Innovation by Doing), is the link between defense and the business community: “We see here in the region a lot of innovation. We think that companies can contribute to better resources for our soldiers here. We are here for that.”