Strategy for Human Capital with future-proof skills and collaboration
To make the NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood ecosystem future-proof, developing human capital is essential. Our focus lies in connecting education and industry, fostering new skill sets, and strengthening collaboration between green and technical education. Additionally, we invest in improving digital skills and systems engineering competencies to ensure that professionals are well prepared for the technological developments within the agrifood sector.
This approach enables the hands-free agrifood ecosystem not only to adapt to today’s challenges but also to be ready for the future. By broadening the ecosystem with new knowledge and insights, we create opportunities to apply innovations more effectively and at a faster pace.
Connecting
Bringing education and industry together for innovation
A strong connection between education and industry is essential to strengthen the hands-free agrifood ecosystem. We are working on developing new skill sets that align with the latest technologies in the agrifood sector. This involves not only technical expertise but also the ability to collaborate and integrate social aspects. By bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, we ensure that professionals are immediately employable and able to respond quickly to change. Connecting knowledge with real-world application accelerates the adoption of new technologies and enables innovations to be implemented more quickly and efficiently within the ecosystem.
"The strength of our ecosystem lies in the people who work together to build a future-proof agrifood sector."
Developing
Future-ready skills
To support innovation within the hands-free agrifood ecosystem, we focus on developing the skills needed to work with emerging technologies. This includes technical skills such as systems engineering and data-driven working, as well as social skills that foster collaboration and innovation. Through training and education, we ensure that employees not only understand technology but can also apply it effectively. As a result, the ecosystem itself becomes stronger, and the adoption of technology across the sector improves—enabling companies to respond more effectively to changes in the market.
Collaboration
Bringing green and technical education closer together
Strengthening collaboration between green and technical education ensures that knowledge of food production and emerging technologies go hand in hand. This cross-pollination enables students and professionals to grow into experts who understand both the needs of the sector and the potential of new technologies. Such collaboration drives innovative solutions that are directly applicable in practice. By combining knowledge and skills from different domains, the ecosystem expands, creating new opportunities for innovation both within and beyond the sector.
Digital skills
Enhancing digital strength
Digital skills are essential to support the transition to hands-free agrifood. Our focus is on strengthening capabilities in data analysis, automation, and system integration, enabling professionals to work more efficiently and optimise processes within the ecosystem. By investing in systems engineering competencies, we make it possible to implement technological solutions quickly and effectively. Combined with strong collaboration across the ecosystem, this approach ensures that technological developments are not only adopted more rapidly but also more broadly supported—contributing to the acceleration of innovation within the sector.
Future
A solid foundation for the future
We are working on structural measures that not only address the current demand for skills but also ensure long-term, sustainable change. By creating a future-proof hands-free agrifood ecosystem—where technology, knowledge, and collaboration take centre stage—we are preparing the agrifood sector for the challenges ahead. Together, we are building an ecosystem where growth and innovation go hand in hand.
By structurally strengthening and expanding the ecosystem through new partnerships and knowledge sharing, we create an environment where innovations have lasting impact and companies within the sector can maintain and enhance their competitive position.
Ecosystem coordinators
Strengthening and expanding the hands-free agrifood ecosystem
Peter Schellekens and Josephine van Eggelen, as ecosystem coordinators, are the connecting force within the hands-free agrifood ecosystem. They bring stakeholders together and ensure that collaboration and knowledge sharing strengthen the ecosystem. In addition, they focus on expanding the network by actively seeking connections with innovative projects and initiatives outside the ecosystem. In doing so, they create new opportunities and accelerate the development of the ecosystem and the use cases that are part of it.