Nikolaas Vles keynote speaker at Innovation price Region FoodValley

The Foodvalley Region is working hard on the future. Smart ideas, unexpected collaborations and a healthy dose of pragmatism can lead to the most beautiful innovations. The Foodvalley Region Innovation Prize puts these innovations – and the entrepreneurs who develop them – in the spotlight. The prize will be presented again on October 16, 2024 during a festive evening in the Mauritskazerne in Ede.

CEO NIZO – Keynote Speaker

From awareness to impact: the state of the innovation landscape

The Foodvalley region has been a leader in European Food Tech innovations for many years. We have a strong foundation with NIZO, the largest food-grade and open-access pilot facility in Europe. But where are we today? What is the Netherlands doing to strengthen its position in Food Tech, and what is happening in our own region?

Nikolaas discusses the opportunities that investments through regional deals and growth funds offer us. But the challenges are also discussed: the importance of a strongly connected region; but how to prevent (unnecessary) competition at national level? Is there enough ambition and scope in the regulations to really make an impact? And above all: how do we ensure that all stakeholders continue to work together and inspire each other? Connection within the ecosystem serves as the central theme.

Let’s together transform the ambition of awareness into tangible impact!