IO+ week: 3D Medical event and entrepreneuring in NL

The Christmas holiday is just around the corner. But we are also very busy with what comes next. On January 28, we are organizing the 3D Medical event. For Jakajima, the 12th time, for us, the first time. We will do our utmost to make it an inspiring day full of innovation. Our line-up of speakers will be no exception. We put two of them in the spotlight. Do you want to be there? Click here for more information, and register here.

1. Bas Overvelde - The future of robotics: flexible, soft, natural

When you think of robots, you probably picture metal, mechanical systems controlled from a central point. While many robots conform to this image today, soft robotics open new doors. Flexible materials allow systems to move more naturally and refined, which is ideal for applications in the medical field. Bas Overvelde, scientific group leader of AMOLF's Soft Robotic Matter Group and associate professor at Eindhoven University of Technology, focuses on this topic with his research.

2. Laura De Laporte develops oriented hydrogels for spinal cord repair

Laura De Laporte was passionate about medicine and decided to study Engineering at the University of Ghent. She is now one of Europe's most renowned fabrication experts, focusing on creating biological tissues and organs using techniques such as 3D printing. More concretely, she develops oriented hydrogels for spinal cord repair.

Doing business in the Netherlands is becoming increasingly difficult

Figures from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Business Climate Monitor 2024 showed last week that appreciation for the Dutch business climate is declining. Companies rate the Dutch business climate an average of 6.0. In the World Competitiveness Ranking (IMD), the Netherlands will drop from 5th to 9th place in 2024, the most significant drop within the top 10. Also, Dutch and European tech companies cannot compete with the US in terms of salaries.

Colleague Merien wrote an opinion piece about it. The headline is: 'Entrepreneurship in Europe will not work out anymore.' Fortunately, there is an if. If we as an ecosystem are willing to suffer pain and say goodbye to old ideals and priorities, things can still work out. That message is quite downbeat for us as a platform that writes about innovation and technology, but it is also essential.

Click here for more info about the 3D Medical event.

Making Tata Steel sustainable: maze of problems

Tata Steel could be just such an example. The steel manufacturer will switch from coal to hydrogen in their blast furnace processes. But behind this ambition lies a maze of problems that could make this dream go up in smoke. The steel market is saturated, energy in the Netherlands is more expensive than ever, and green hydrogen is virtually unattainable. You can read all about it in this analysis Elcke made.

Fortunately, there is also a lot of hopeful news. Check it out:

• Google's Willow chip: a quantum leap in computing?
• Can you patent a recipe? Yes, no and maybe
• Detecting dementia earlier through Cogniclear VR
• Must read of the week: These entrepreneurs are determined to make Brainport a leading Biomaterials region: 'We can do more than make chips here’
• From potato leftovers to fatty acids: circular plant opens in Groningen
• National Growth Fund invests €1.4 million in Twente biotech projects
• Air passengers in Europe increase by 20% – Schiphol tops 60 million travelers
• Plastic recycler Ioniqa relaunches in challenging market
• Overcoming generators: ‘How can I work in construction without acting to decarbonize it?’

Have a great week!

Aafke Eppinga - editor-in-chief at IO+