Start the conference with a coffee and explore cutting-edge technological demo's.

We kick off the conference with a plenary session, introduced by Monika Hoekstra and Peter Stolk.

Speakers:

Erwin Nijsse, DG for Business and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

Peter Stolk, Chair NXTGEN Hightech

Monika Hoekstra, Managing director NXTGEN Hightech

Mattijs Slee is a cleantech entrepreneur with a broad technical and commercial background, motivated to bring scale to the energy transition to ensure energy security and reduce climate damage.

After graduating with a MSc in hydraulics at Delft University of Technology in 2006, he worked on large scale energy projects around the world with Shell. In 2019 he joined the New Energy business as an Investment Director at Shell Ventures and later Commercial Head Europe for Shell Hydrogen.

In 2021 he was appointed CEO of Battolyser Systems, a cleantech scale-up developing the first fully flexible electrolyser that allows integration of renewable energy and produces low-cost green hydrogen for industrial applications. In 2026 Battolyser Systems merged with VDL Hydrogen Systems into Alquion, which he leads as Founder and CEO.

Arnaud de Jong is Managing Director of TNO High Tech Industry, where he leads an international team of approximately 600 professionals. Under his leadership, this unit fosters technological innovation to strengthen the competitiveness of high-tech companies and secure a strong position for the Netherlands within global industrial value chains.

Prior to his role at TNO, Arnaud was CEO of Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands. Furthermore, he contributes to strategic innovation through various roles at organizations including TU Delft, HighTechXL, NXTGEN Hightech, and Eindhoven Engine.

At midday, enjoy an extensive networking lunch. Explore demos at the knowledge plaza, learn more about our PhD projects, and make new connections.

See below for more details.

See below for more details.

André Kuipers is the first Dutchman with two space missions to his name. His second mission is the longest European spaceflight in history. In total, the ESA astronaut spent 204 days in space: 11 days during mission DELTA in 2004 and 193 days during mission PromISSe.

After years of training in Houston, Moscow, Cologne, Montreal and Tokyo, André, together with a Russian and American colleague, was launched for the second time on December 21, 2011 with a Russian Soyuz rocket. Two days later he arrived at the International Space Station to live and work there for six months. On board he was not only a doctor and scientist, but also a flight engineer and maintenance engineer. On July 1, 2012, André returned and landed his space capsule in the Kazakh steppe.

André Kuipers speaks to a wide range of audiences, from young to old and from diverse backgrounds. Drawing on his extensive experience, he can focus on various aspects of manned space travel.

After a full program, it’s time for drinks. Take a moment to walk around the knowledge square and enjoy some snacks and refreshments.