ZIE 2026 focuses on scale, collaboration and the future of manufacturing
On 26 March 2026, the Zuid-Hollands Industrie Event (ZIE) will take place at the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam. During this annual knowledge and networking event, more than 1,000 professionals from high-tech and manufacturing companies, knowledge institutions, government bodies and educational organisations will come together to discuss the future of the technological industry. Five leading regional scale-ups will be presenting at our pavilion: Nearfield Instruments, Q*Bird, ExRobotics, Orange Quantum Systems en Qualinx. They represent our pavilion with technologies that are already being developed, produced and applied in international markets and industrial value chains. The challenge that comes with this is clear: organising scale.
ZIE — Zuid-Hollands Industrie Event — continues to surprise each year. It is the stage for hundreds of manufacturing companies.
Who Is Building the Next Generation of Industry?
The region has an exceptionally strong starting position. Around Delft and Leiden, one of the most concentrated quantum ecosystems in the world has emerged. In aerospace, South Holland represents approximately half of all Dutch aviation activities and a significant share of the national space value chain. In robotics, the region ranks among the largest ecosystems in Europe. This strength lies in the close interaction between OEMs, suppliers, knowledge institutions and production companies.
Several fast-growing companies are gaining momentum and increasing the region’s visibility. In November 2025, Deloitte included Q*Bird, Zander Labs, LeydenJar and Nearfield Instruments in its Technology Fast 50 ranking. These companies have successfully translated their technology into growth and international business expansion. This confirms that South Holland produces deeptech companies capable of competing on a global stage.
The question is how structural that success is. International benchmarks such as the Regional Innovation Scoreboard and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index show that South Holland performs strongly in knowledge and entrepreneurship. At the same time, private R&D investment, product and process innovation, and scaling capacity do not always grow at the same pace across the region. The potential is significant; organising scale requires continuous attention.
Working Together on Strategic Technologies
At national level, this is addressed through the implementation of the National Technology Strategy (NTS). The Dutch government has identified key enabling technologies in which the Netherlands aims to make an international impact, ranging from quantum and semiconductors to robotics and aerospace.
Through the Kennis- en Innovatieagenda’s (KIAs), investments are made in further technological development. The regional development agencies (ROMs), working jointly, focus on translating these technologies into concrete value chains and growth markets. InnovationQuarter fulfils this role for South Holland. In practice, this means facilitating access to finance, removing barriers related to space and regulation, and connecting companies with the right partners at home and abroad.
“South Holland is the leading supplier of deeptech companies in the Netherlands. InnovationQuarter supports these companies wherever possible, for example through financing, helping them find locations for growth, and international market exploration. At ZIE, we present these strong scale-ups to the regional ecosystem: these are your OEMs and partners of the future!”
– Anton Duisterwinkel, Senior Business Developer, InnovationQuarter
Industry as a System
With more than 30,000 manufacturing companies and suppliers, South Holland forms a complete industrial system. Here, semiconductors are measured, robots are built, communication networks are secured and components are produced that find their way into value chains around the world.
Growth raises practical questions. How do you scale without becoming dependent on a single market or value chain partner? How do you ensure that product development and production reinforce each other? How do you maintain competitiveness in an increasingly competitive European market? And how do you access capital for phases that traditional banks consider too risky?
ZIE is where these questions become tangible. High-tech and manufacturing companies, suppliers, investors, policymakers and end customers come together to establish new connections. For scale-ups, this means access to customers and partners. For established companies, it offers visibility of technologies that can strengthen productivity and their position within the value chain.
The exhibition floor at ZIE is a success year after year for the entire technological industry.
Digitalisation as a Precondition for Scale
Alongside the InnovationQuarter pavilion, Digitalzh will also be present. Digitalzh is part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs Network (EDIH) and supports SMEs and mid-caps in their digital transformation, from strategic challenges to implementation.
As part of the programme, Digitalzh will host the session “The Digital Challenge” (12:15 – 12:45), featuring Edward Gilding (InnovationQuarter), Bram van den Boom (Flow Center / Tech Binder) and Tanja Hulst (Provincie Zuid-Holland). The session will focus on what digitalisation can offer manufacturing, maritime and high-tech companies, addressing a central question: what support is available, and how can it be financed and implemented?
26 March: Strengthening Value Chains
Those building the next generation of industry do not do so alone. It requires companies willing to scale, stronger value chains, and a region capable of translating its technological strength into sustainable economic value.
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Anton Duisterwinkel
