Strong backing for TECH.LAND
Enschede/Münster – The dutch-german technology initiative TECH.LAND is celebrating its first birthday today (19 May) in Enschede. Since our founding in Münster almost twelve months ago, the number of institutions involved in TECH.LAND and supporting the development and visibility of the economic region has grown to 22. Nine new partners officially joined, and we looked back on one year of cross-border cooperation, joint innovation projects, and growing international visibility for our region. The mood among participants at the meeting in the Netherlands was correspondingly positive.
"The support in the region for the initiative and the team spirit at TECH.LAND are huge," summarises Hans Brouwers, the programme manager responsible for the initiative. He emphasises: "TECH.LAND is an example of a strong piece of Europe that draws its innovative power from the different strengths of partners on both sides of the border." We are convinced: our motto ‘Transforming Borders into Connections’ is becoming reality.
For us, TECH.LAND is a strategically important building block for strengthening international competitiveness in the region. "TECH.LAND increases visibility on the international stage and thus enhances the attractiveness for foreign investment," says Dr Fritz Jaeckel from IHK Nord Westfalen.
This is also emphasised by Victor-Jan Leurs from the Twente Board: "With TECH.LAND, we are making the best possible use of the potential that lies in cross-border cooperation." The initiative shows how economic cooperation, technology transfer, and cross-border networking of talent can be successfully implemented between the Netherlands and Germany. "Together with all partners, we are driving technological innovations forward, accelerating the transfer to the economy and demonstrating our strengths in key future technologies," explains Liane van der Veen from Oost NL.
Numerous international activities were already jointly realised in the first year, including delegation visits to the USA and Singapore as well as appearances at leading events in Düsseldorf (Medica), Rotterdam (World Hydrogen Summit), Brussels (European Hydrogen Week), Hanover (Hannover Messe) and Munich (EXPO REAL). In addition, the "Mobile Aircraft Charger" project became the first joint funding project under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Battery Cell Research Centre (Battery Cluster). Further funding projects such as H2EART or R-Factory have been submitted or are in preparation for applications to the EU and in Germany. Cooperation with universities and innovation centres is also being expanded through these joint projects.
Further partnerships with public institutions and companies as well as intensified collaboration with regions such as Emscher-Lippe, Arnhem-Nijmegen, Achterhoek and Osnabrück-Emsland aim to further position TECH.LAND as an emerging technology hub in Europe, says Brouwers. On 12 March 2026, we also plan to present ourselves to a broader public with a dutch-german technology event at the Messe- und Congress-Centrum in Halle Münsterland. "With the 'TECH.LAND Xperience', we are creating a showcase for the technological strengths of the dutch-german border region," emphasises Brouwers.
Photo credit: IHK Nord Westfalen
