NAE Innovation Conference: Strong Connections to Retain Engineering Talent
NAE Innovation Conference: Strong Connections to Retain Engineering Talent
On 19 November 2025, the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (NAE) will host its annual Innovation Conference at the Prodentfabriek in Amersfoort. During the event, we will bring together leaders, researchers, and policymakers from knowledge institutions, academia, industry, and government to discuss a systems approach to retaining engineering talent.
You are warmly invited to join us! The conference will be held in English, with room for Dutch. Please register via the button below.
Language English/Dutch
How can we reduce dropout rates from technical education and professions?
The Netherlands urgently needs all the technical brainpower and systems engineers it can get to address the major societal transitions ahead. Organisations such as Platform Talent voor Techniek, the 4TU Federation, and VHTO invest heavily in inspiring young people to choose a career in engineering. Yet only 19% of Dutch students opt for a degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), compared to the European average of 30%. In Germany the figure is 40%, and in Japan even 43% (figures from Holland High Tech).
There is far less focus on attrition within the sector, even though there are clear opportunities here. The Netherlands lacks a nationwide, coordinated approach to ensuring that engineering students and practising engineers—particularly women—actually stay in the field.
Keynote
- Shini Somara, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE, UK) and presenter of the highly successful YouTube series Crash Course Engineering (Keynote Lecture)
Inspiration talks
- Joost Frenken, Chair of the National Outreach Consultation (NOO) (Inspiration Lecture)
- Ernst Kuipers, Vice President Research, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Inspiration Lecture)
- Vinod Subramaniam, President of the Executive Board, University of Twente (Inspiration Lecture)
- Sahar Yadegari, Director, VHTO (Inspiration Lecture)
- Lukas Roffel, Chair of NAE and Chief Technology Officer, Thales – interview
- Maroeska Rovers, Scientific Director, TechMed Centre Twente / Professor of Medical Technology & Innovation, Radboudumc – interview
Work shops
- Increasing the proportion of female engineers
- Retaining engineering talent
- Systemic solutions for boosting engineering talent in the Netherlands
Chair of the Day
Eveline van Rijswijk
Join us on 19 November 2025 at the Prodentfabriek in Amersfoort for a day of insights, collaboration, and strategic action to secure the future of engineering talent in the Netherlands.