{"id":491548,"date":"2024-11-01T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T05:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=491548"},"modified":"2024-11-01T06:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T05:30:00","slug":"pushing-boundaries-in-agriculture-healthcare-and-energy-precision-technology-indispensable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/pushing-boundaries-in-agriculture-healthcare-and-energy-precision-technology-indispensable\/","title":{"rendered":"Pushing boundaries in agriculture, healthcare and energy: ‘Precision technology indispensable’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Extremely small parts are made with great precision. That is the essence of precision technology, which we urgently need to solve societal challenges. This groundbreaking technology requires international cooperation. This is the theme of Mikrocentrum’s Precision Fair<\/a> this year. The fair shows what the Dutch precision technology industry means to international high-tech companies. For example, several NXTGEN Hightech<\/a> projects are presented in the International Cooperation Area. These projects illustrate the power and influence of Dutch international cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Precision Fair<\/h2>

November 13 and 14 is when the Precisiebeurs takes place, organized by Mikrocentrum. The entire ecosystem around high-tech and precision technology comes together.
Our machines and devices are constantly becoming faster, smarter, and more advanced. Developing these requires complex technological solutions, precise measurements, and increasingly sophisticated production and construction methods.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pushing boundaries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

International cooperation is indispensable in the development of such solutions. \u201cThis year we have not chosen a technical theme, but rather cooperation as the central theme,\u201d says program manager Bart Kooijmans. \u201cCooperation is not only necessary, but the parties at the Precision Fair are also very strong in this area. For example, they work together within ASML’s entire supply chain to come up with groundbreaking solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But also beyond that. \u201cBy pushing boundaries, we can achieve fantastic things: using technology to be more energy efficient, improve the environment, or support people in the medical sector.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NXTGEN Hightech<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

International visitors on the show floor will also get a glimpse of the power of Dutch collaborations and discover how they can capitalize on it. \u201cWe show how we get projects off the ground successfully.\u201d Kooijmans is referring to NXTGEN Hightech, which is present on the exhibition floor. This ambitious National Growth Fund program, consisting of 61 projects with 330+ project partners, is contributing to solutions for major societal challenges. \u201cThese projects show how strong the Dutch high-tech ecosystem is, and how international partners can benefit from it,\u201d Kooijmans said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program supports competitiveness and earning power in the Netherlands. Monika Hoekstra, director of the program, said, \u201cWe are developing innovations that are essential for various transitions, for example, the energy transition, such as electrolyzers for green hydrogen and advanced battery technologies for electric vehicles. We are also taking steps in the agricultural sector by automating food production, for example with robotization in the open field but also in greenhouses. And many more projects are underway in several sectors. Each of these projects has the potential to make a significant impact in the future, and in many cases, we are already seeing that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoekstra himself will be present at the Precision Fair. \u201cI’m greatly looking forward to hearing what others are working on. Developments are moving very fast in some sectors and it is essential to keep up. How is the high-tech industry doing? What are the bottlenecks and what new opportunities may have emerged? It’s a fantastic opportunity to network, showcase our projects, and also get updates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>
Cooperation, adaptability, and expansion beyond Brainport are on Mikrocentrum’s agenda – but first, there’s time to listen<\/div>
Edwin de Zeeuw has just completed his first hundred days as director of Mikrocentrum. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Next generation of electrolyzers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

VSParticle<\/a>, one of the companies that is part of NXTGEN Hightech, will also be present at the fair. Within the project, the company is focusing on the development of third-generation electrolyzers, with a specific focus on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers to make green hydrogen. Says Pauline Roels, Product Owner of VSParticle, \u201cOur focus is on improving the efficiency, material usage, and reducing the cost of such electrolyzers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is much needed. A crucial part of the electrolyzer stack is the so-called porous transport layer (PTL), which is coated with iridium. However, this metal is scarce, and the mining process involves significant costs. VSParticle has developed a solution: a generator that can make tiny particles from large iridium rods. These iridium nanoparticles are used as catalysts in the electrolyzer. \u201cIn tests, we use 90% less iridium while maintaining the same performance,\u201d Roels said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Roels’ first visit to the fair. \u201cBesides presenting the nanoprinter research tool, I especially hope to learn from the partners. We want to avoid designing things that already exist. My focus is on collaborating with others so that we can further improve our machines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wafers, healthcare, and vine tomatoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Technolution<\/a>, also a participant in NXTGEN Hightech, can be found on the show floor. Among other things, the company focuses on improving measurement and inspection systems for semiconductor and life sciences applications. Gerard Rauwerda, business developer at the company, says: \u201cWith our advanced electron microscope, we can use 64 electron beams simultaneously, which allows us to make detailed (nanometer resolution) images in a shorter time. And using advanced electronics and AI, we are working on improved data collection and processing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metrology technology can be useful in many different industries, Rauwerda explains. \u201cFor example, think about monitoring the chip manufacturing process to measure the layer thicknesses on a wafer.\u201d There are also applications in the healthcare sector. In the life sciences, much is still unknown about how the human body works. \u201cWith machines that offer nanometer resolution, we can better map the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technolution is also working on a solution for the agricultural sector. This will be demonstrated at the Precision Fair. \u201cWe are using AI and computer vision in the packaging process of vine tomatoes. By detecting the bunches on the packing belt, we can pack them more efficiently. In addition, the AI can predict the weight of the packed tomatoes.\u201d Such AI is also applied to recognize cells and cell connections in biological cell tissue, such as the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing on the world stage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

VSParticle, Technolution, and the other companies within NXTGEN Hightech are just a few cogs in Holland’s high-tech ecosystem. Hoekstra concludes, \u201cThe Netherlands is among the top innovation countries in Europe. But, we cannot afford to get too comfortable, because the competition does not sleep! Countries like China are playing an increasing role in the world of high-tech, and we have to make sure we don’t miss the boat. NXTGEN Hightech is a crucial part of it all, but other high-tech companies and academic institutions in our country also play an important role. As well as the Precision Fair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complexity of these processes is so high that solutions can only come about by working together. This edition of the Precision Fair is all about international cooperation; by sharing knowledge and working together – also beyond our national borders – we can push boundaries. Hoekstra: \u201cOnly by working together can we as a country maintain our position on the world stage.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Extremely small parts are made with great precision. That is the essence of precision technology, which we urgently need to solve societal challenges. This groundbreaking technology requires international cooperation. This is the theme of Mikrocentrum’s Precision Fair this year. The fair shows what the Dutch precision technology industry means to international high-tech companies. For example, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1780,"featured_media":505572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-partner.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[84165],"tags":[70499,74542],"location":[6763],"article_type":[43139],"serie":[],"archives":[],"internal_archives":[],"reboot-archive":[81075],"class_list":["post-491548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-mikrocentrum-2","tag-precisiebeurs-2","location-netherlands","article_type-features","reboot-archive-community"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":{"subtitle":"Frontier technology requires international cooperation. That is precisely the theme of Mikrocentrum's Precision Fair this year.","text_display_homepage":false},"author_meta":{"display_name":"Elcke Vels","author_link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/author\/elckevels\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/globe-895580_1280-1.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["COMMUNITY<\/a>"],"unlinked":["COMMUNITY<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Mikrocentrum<\/a>","Precisiebeurs<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Mikrocentrum<\/span>","Precisiebeurs<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 1 year ago","modified":"Updated 1 year ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on November 1, 2024","modified":"Updated on November 1, 2024"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on November 1, 2024 6:30 am","modified":"Updated on November 1, 2024 6:30 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1780"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=491548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/505572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=491548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"serie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/serie?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/archives?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"internal_archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal_archives?post=491548"},{"taxonomy":"reboot-archive","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reboot-archive?post=491548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}