Technical talent is the driving force behind innovation and growth. But what if there are no more well-trained professionals in the future? What if companies in Twente can no longer find the right people and therefore miss out on opportunities?

This is not a distant future – it is already happening.

The number of students enrolling in technical programmes is dropping, while the demand for technically trained personnel continues to grow. This means a tightening labour market, vacancies that remain unfilled for longer and, ultimately, a brake on innovation and economic activity in Twente. If we want to become a stronger region, we must invest now. That is why Twente Board is organising the Talent Meet Up on 10 April, especially for entrepreneurs. No abstract policy plans, but concrete initiatives and examples that are already working in Twente – and that your company can immediately join.

KEYNOTES AND PRACTICAL EXAMPLES

Insights from the business community
Hanneke Ackerman (FME) and Job van Harmelen (Thales) share insights into the growing challenges surrounding technical talent and the impact on companies.

10 April is Girls’ Day!
Judith Vissers (Thales) explains how we can get more women excited about a technical career and shares her experiences. Technoscope: How do children feel about technology? Tim Post shares the initial insights from this study into children’s attitudes towards technology. What determines their choice for a technical future, and how can we get them excited?

Kids4Twente: Making technology accessible to children
Gerard Nijsse (Greenbox) shares his experiences with this project! Learn how you can contribute as a company. How does your company already contribute to technology education? Discover how you can strengthen this! Talk to entrepreneurs and experts about concrete opportunities and collaborations. Learn from companies that are already actively involved and be inspired by their approach. We will end the day with a bite to eat, because a prerequisite for good collaboration is that we meet and get to know and appreciate each other.

INTERACTIVE SESSION AND NETWORKING

• How does your company already contribute to technical education?
  Discover how you can strengthen this!
• Talk to entrepreneurs and experts about concrete opportunities and collaborations.
• Learn from companies that are already actively involved and be inspired by their approach.
• We will end the day with a bite to eat, because a prerequisite for good cooperation is that we meet each other and get to know and appreciate one another.