Our R&D departments work together in a unique way and, instead of competing with each other, support and reinforce each other. Every year, we create more than 50 innovative products worldwide. These products contribute to society in the areas of safety, simplifying the operation of complex systems, providing access to data that improve food quality, and tailoring them to individual consumer needs. Our collaboration is called Innovatiecluster Drachten and is centrally located in the smart factory region of North-West Europe.
Our innovative cluster is focussing on content and we like to share our knowledge. We do this, for example, with honor programs for students and Hightech Safaris. We also have special career and development programs for talents and support high-tech startups.
Our Big 5 of the high-tech
Together, we develop the solutions of the future with our ‘Big 5’ of high-tech: robotics, 3D metal printing, remote sensing & big data, visual intelligence and renewable propulsion. In doing so, we work toward a healthy environment, better and safer food, advanced healthcare, a safer society and sustainable working conditions.
Shared Facilities
Our companies jointly use a high-tech Shared Facility Centre with industrial 3D printers for metal and plastic, and cobots. This is where we host our workshops for R&D projects, and where our development and testing facilities for 3D printing and auditoriums for school and student programmes are located.
Knowledge sharing
Exchange of knowledge is the basis of our cooperation. Through this knowledge exchange and cooperation, a unique high-tech ecosystem is growing in the Northern Netherlands. Knowledge institutions are linking up, including the University of Groningen, University of Twente, the colleges NHL Stenden and Hanzehogeschool Groningen and the ROCs FIRDA and Drenthe College. Not only for doing research and research, but especially for gaining internship and work experience in a high-quality technical environment.
In addition, Technicnoord was recently started with the cooperation of members of the ICD. This institution has a unique BBL Mechatronics training program. Furthermore, we have facility sharing programs. And what about the special career and talent development programs for both MBO and HBO/WO graduates and a special program in which we guide high-tech start-ups!
Part of the smart
Being part of the ICD means contributing to solutions for the future. More than 3,500 motivated professionals are leveraging the power of the ICD to build their careers in the high-tech industry in the Northern Netherlands. Together, we take on the challenge of developing high-quality, unique products — and often producing them ourselves. Not by competing, but by sharing knowledge. Because together, we go further!