The setting itself reflected that ambition. As Mark Van Lieshout, Business Developer at BIC, put it:
“This 110,000 square meter campus is home to 54 companies focused on productivity, education, and innovation. For us, it is the heart of high tech manufacturing in the south of the Netherlands.”
Read on or watch the video below to get a recap of the event.
The real challenges in high tech
High tech manufacturing faces increasing complexity. Products evolve faster. Talent is scarce. Geopolitical pressure forces Europe to strengthen its own position.
Azumuta CEO Batist Leman opened the discussion by setting the tone:
“Today was about tackling high tech challenges together, sharing our perspective on solutions, and having an open discussion with the industry.”
This was not a one way presentation. It was a conversation about practical solutions. How do you deal with knowledge gaps on the shop floor? How do you scale expertise when experienced operators retire? How do you introduce new digital tools without disrupting production?
Technology is not enough
Mart Lommers from Sioux brought a critical perspective. Technology alone does not solve anything if it is not embedded in culture and daily operations.
“We talk a lot about tools, software, and AI, but the real challenge is integrating them into the organization, the culture, and the continuous improvement of our people.”
He also addressed the broader context:
“We see a lot of things happening geopolitically, and we as Europe need to make sure that we thrive via innovation and therefore work closely together.”
The message was clear. Digital transformation is not a software project. It is an organizational shift. It requires alignment between technology, people, and continuous improvement.
From digital ambition to practical impact
A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was execution. It is easy to talk about AI, digitalization, and smart factories. It is much harder to implement solutions that truly work on the shop floor. The discussion focused on how companies can move from ambition to action using tools that are already available today.
Jeroen Broekhuijsen highlighted that the technology is no longer the limiting factor:
“It’s possible, given the current software, digitalization, and platforms, to make these changes happen.”
That message resonated with the audience, especially when the conversation turned to practical challenges like digitizing existing work instructions. Many manufacturers struggle to modernize legacy documentation while keeping production running. This is where digital tools can deliver immediate value, not by replacing people, but by capturing and scaling their expertise in a structured way.
Moving forward together
The Future of High Tech Industry was not about hype. It was about clarity, about understanding the challenges in high tech manufacturing and discussing realistic solutions.
We believe manufacturing can improve. With the right combination of technology, culture, and collaboration, it can move faster, work smarter, and stay competitive in Europe and beyond.
The conversations started on February 10 will continue. On the campus. In factories. Across the Brainport ecosystem.
And on March 17th at Re:Manufacture in Ghent, where we will explore the future of manufacturing in Europe, focusing on resilience, strategic innovation, and industrial competitiveness in a changing geopolitical landscape. Re:Manufacture brings together a powerful lineup of speakers, including Prof. Stéphane Garelli, a global competitiveness expert; Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML; Cagan Koc, Bloomberg tech and geopolitics journalist; Dr. Joeri Schasfoort, noted economic strategist; Tom Van de Weghe, geopolitical analyst; An Steegen, CEO of Barco, and others.
Whether you are a policymaker, industrial leader, or pioneer in manufacturing, Re:Manufacture is designed to challenge assumptions and help shape the next chapter for European industry. Join us to reflect, reconnect, and build the future together.
