The Dutch Ministry of Defence has opened a new innovation centre on the TU Delft campus: the MIND Tech Centre, short for Military Innovation by Doing. Operational since 1 July, the centre brings together Defence, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to accelerate the development of new technologies for the armed forces.
State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk officially opened the facility.
The MIND Tech Centre focuses on dual-use innovations that have both military and civilian applications, including drones, sensors, space technology, IT, advanced materials and digital systems. It is intended to turn policy into practical collaboration by bringing together people, technology, ideas and opportunities.
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Lessons from 1940
During the opening, Boswijk reflected on the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, noting that Delft’s industry believed the government had not acted quickly enough to strengthen air defences. As a result, local companies took matters into their own hands.
‘Carpenters, blacksmiths and factory directors trained between shifts, despite having no military experience or ammunition. Shortly before the war they carried out a single live-fire exercise. With guns concealed around the factories, 200 “factory soldiers” defended the city of Delft. These volunteers eventually shot down fifteen enemy aircraft, helping to thwart the German operation. An impressive achievement, but also a reminder that government and industry failed to work together at the time,’ Boswijk said.
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Drones and rapid innovation
According to Boswijk, it is possible that Russia could attack NATO in the near future. ‘That is why the Dutch armed forces need the best equipment: equipment and IT that can be adapted quickly and is more advanced than that of the enemy. In Ukraine, we can see just how important that is. There, drones are being developed at an ever-faster pace, in collaboration with companies and innovators.’
According to the State Secretary, it is time to break down the barriers between the military, the business sector and the scientific community in the Netherlands too. ‘This centre gives us the much-needed scope to test and experiment, with the aim of shortening the innovation cycles for equipment and IT.’
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Partnerships
The centre is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, the province of South Holland and Delft University of Technology. The province is allocating EUR 1 million to this project. Part of that funding comes from the European Union. South Holland is one of the pioneers in the Netherlands when it comes to innovative start-ups. This makes Delft a suitable location for this centre.
South Holland also has a strong dual-use industry. This means that technology designed for civilian purposes can also be used for military applications. Examples include communication systems, sensors, IT, computers and software. According to Boswijk, this also breaks down the barrier between the Ministry of Defence and society.
Picture: State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk speaking at the opening of the MIND Tech Centre (Photo by the Dutch Ministry of Defence).
