Dutch Prime Minister Highlights TECH.LAND as a Model for Cross-Border Innovation

At the joint opening of the academic year at the University of Twente and Hogeschool Saxion, Dutch Prime Minister Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria 'Dick' Schoof placed a strong spotlight on the role of Twente as a driver of defense innovation and digital transformation.

In his speech in Enschede, Schoof emphasized how deeply rooted the region is in industry, cooperation, and innovation – values that today form the backbone of cross-border initiatives like TECH.LAND.

Key messages from the Prime Minister’s speech

Regional roots, global impact: Schoof underlined the importance of his personal connection to Twente and how local industry has grown into an international powerhouse in defense, semicon, and high-tech manufacturing.
Cross-border collaboration as an asset: By explicitly mentioning Dutch-German TECH.LAND, he acknowledged the importance of networks that connect universities, industry, and governments across borders.
Investment in talent: With €72 million reserved for Twente to expand the regional talent pipeline, the government is reinforcing the link between education, research, and industry.
Public-private partnerships: Schoof highlighted UT and Saxion as examples of how academia and industry can work together to tackle pressing challenges – from defense to digitalization.

Why this matters for TECH.LAND

At TECH.LAND, we believe that innovation knows no borders. The Prime Minister’s recognition confirms the unique role of our network: connecting partners across Germany and the Netherlands to turn research and ideas into real-world impact.

By bringing together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics, we are building an ecosystem that:

Creates pathways from research to industry.
Strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Trains the talent needed for tomorrow’s challenges.
Accelerates collaboration in areas that matter most: defense, digital, and sustainability.

Looking ahead

The Prime Minister’s words in Enschede are more than a speech – they are a signal: cross-border regions like Twente and Münster are where Europe’s future is being built.

We are proud that TECH.LAND was highlighted as a pioneering model in this context. Together with our partners, we will continue to connect the dots and push boundaries – for innovation that benefits regions, industries, and society across Europe.

Have a closer look into the speech of the Prime Minister here.

© University of Twente, Eric Brinkhorst