The IO+ week: extremely interesting conferences
Every Sunday, our weekly review offers an overview of the most interesting stories around important innovations.
Published on April 6, 2025
Bart, co-founder of Media52 and Professor of Journalism oversees IO+, events, and Laio. A journalist at heart, he keeps writing as many stories as possible.
We can do much of our work “from behind our desks”. Since the coronavirus pandemic, interviews increasingly take place via video link (which is very efficient), and a lot of valuable information is available on digital channels. Fortunately, we are still regularly out and about. Last week, for example, we attended four very different but all exciting conferences. Linda Bak was at Innovation Space (more on that later), Elcke Vels joined the TNO Semicon Event (here are the results), Mauro Mereu spent two days in Brussels for the European Innovation Council (EIC), and I was in Drachten for the first National Congress on Autonomous Systems.
In Brussels, Mauro spoke with dozens of policymakers and entrepreneurs to gauge the state of European innovation. His first story already shows many of the steps that still await us, but he has also provided more than enough material for an in-depth study of several specific components.
In Drachten, the central message was: “Nothing happens by itself except autonomous systems” (as organizer Hans Praat always says). There were dozens of parallel sessions and at least as many demonstrations - far too many for one person to attend. Nevertheless, I managed to get a good picture of the importance of autonomous systems for our society, including the opportunities for business and the challenges from science. Especially in times of severe staff shortages, autonomous systems are a godsend.
A good example of the impact of that principle is steel processor 247Taylorsteel. This company from the Achterhoek region has managed to achieve double-digit growth in a shrinking market. CEO Carl Berlo explained that without that automation, he would have to hire at least 200 extra people (= 20% more). Quite apart from whether it would be possible to find these people at all, it would put an enormous strain on his profitability. Indeed, that is nothing less than Achterhoek Intelligence (AI) as the driving force behind autonomous growth. Read his story here.
Aaron Saunders (Boston Dynamics) pitching
The same goes for Drachten: many more interesting stories from the conference surfaced. Some of these can already be read on IO+ (for example, how the University of Groningen shows leadership or how autonomous agriculture works), others, such as that of Boston Dynamics CTO Aaron Saunders, are still to come. Keep an eye on IO+ in the coming days!
Holland High Tech
Not every new IO+ partner makes it into the newsletter. We are making an exception for Holland High Tech: we are incredibly proud to work with this top sector organization to create a series of stories and podcasts about the most critical developments in the High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) sector. The first episode is an interview with the brand-new chairman, Peter Stolk: 'Innovation is not a one-man show'.
Back in town: Maarten and Carlo
Two familiar faces are returning as columnists to IO+. Maarten Steinbuch and Carlo van de Weijer will present their views on the world alternatively on Thursday mornings. Their columns will be published in Dutch in the Dutch financial newspaper FD, and in English on IO+. Here’s the first one, by Carlo: Why the car is here to stay.
Utrecht Merwede: no cars © Landscape Architects
Newsletters
I already showed you last week, but just to be sure, here is a look at the other newsletters IO+ offers:
- IO+ Daily (Dutch, 1200 members)
- Mauro's Green Corner (13,800 members)
- Elcke's Saturday Data Dive (20,550 members)
- Elcke and Mauro's BIO+ Bites (29,300 members)
- Aafke's Saturday CHIPS (16,300 members)
And then there was also this:
- Winning the battle by being more innovative than the opponent
- Dijsselbloem advocates emergency law to help the chip sector
- CarbonX: Europe's battery future, from Delft to the world
- More and more foreign students are staying in the Netherlands after completing their studies
- ASML and other tech companies recognize the potential of autistic talent
- The US is driving scientists away. Europe is fishing for them
- AI can boost the Dutch labor market
- A living coffin: learning to live and restore nature
- Four steps to strengthen your intellectual property strategy
Want to make sure you don't miss a thing? You can find an overview of all our articles here. Have a great Sunday!