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East Netherlands as an essential and versatile link in the European Defence Chain 

Threats are evolving more rapidly, and conflicts are becoming increasingly technological. Meanwhile, Europe’s dependence on non-European innovation and production capacity leaves it vulnerable. In the coming years, Europe must therefore not only invest more in defence but, above all, enable regions to innovate and produce together. The fact that the Eastern Netherlands is an indispensable region in this regard will become clear during the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) in October 2026.&nbsp;During the EWRC, East Netherlands will position itself around the theme of 'Defence &amp; Dual-Use Technology'. In doing so, the region will showcase its capabilities and call on other European regions to collaborate with entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions in the Eastern Netherlands. &nbsp;Erwin Hoogland is the deputy for economy and defence for the province of Overijssel. He explains why East Netherlands is a true defence region: “After South Holland, the Eastern Netherlands has the largest market share in the national defence and security industry. About 220 businesses here are affiliated with the defence sector. In Overijssel alone, we have Scania’s trucks, Broshuis’s trailers, Thales’s radar systems, and Demcon’s sensor and laser technology.”<h1>One of the largest defence region&nbsp;</h1>The Netherlands’ defence and security-related revenue rose from 4.7 billion to 10.2 billion euros between 2021 and 2025. Of that 10.2 billion, just under 2 billion comes from companies in the eastern Netherlands—about 20 percent. “The region also expects significant growth in the coming years. This growth will be proportional to the growth in the defence budgets of European countries,” says Helga Witjes, deputy for economy and innovation for the province of Gelderland. &nbsp;<blockquote>The region also expects substantial growth in the coming years—in line with the growth of European countries’ defence budgets.</blockquote>Hoogland agrees with the ambition expressed by Witjes and emphasizes that the companies in both provinces complement one another, creating fertile ground for innovation and cross-pollination. “Gelderland excels in healthcare, energy, semiconductors, food, logistics, and smart manufacturing. Overijssel excels in chips, photonics, textiles, composites, and other materials. Together, we offer a broad range of capabilities,” says Hoogland.<img src="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/GM_200_MM_C_003_vd_Griendt_VUSTCO_THALES_48e04238b7.JPG?token=0WVcBbpBynvjiPzS9eV7cGs94aQJqT98S9sCdL5TDRE&amp;expires=1789027918" alt="GM200_MM_C-003-vd_Griendt_VUSTCO_THALES.JPG" srcset="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/thumbnail_GM_200_MM_C_003_vd_Griendt_VUSTCO_THALES_48e04238b7.JPG?token=AbPTGN1pPRRwwaaFEOzYLnjtLBuRvjSnXZna3p9Qbyg&amp;expires=1789027918 208w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/small_GM_200_MM_C_003_vd_Griendt_VUSTCO_THALES_48e04238b7.JPG?token=Bx99DdS4j02zV8ssotlAvPZG9xnG5I4bnF78_FG550U&amp;expires=1789027918 500w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/medium_GM_200_MM_C_003_vd_Griendt_VUSTCO_THALES_48e04238b7.JPG?token=8naT_pCg8d28tix4x6HSxEGnNz2OpYrXQ6wt1guXGGA&amp;expires=1789027918 750w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/large_GM_200_MM_C_003_vd_Griendt_VUSTCO_THALES_48e04238b7.JPG?token=G7wNQsCDyxh2vyWlcMnsKJWnoa4vjpUCe5f18Q6ADQE&amp;expires=1789027918 1000w" sizes="100vw" width="1000"><h1>Abundant knowledge, space, and facilities&nbsp;</h1>Both Witjes and Hoogland emphasize the many opportunities East Netherlands has to offer. “First and foremost, we have excellent testing facilities,” says Witjes, “including those operated by the Ministry of Defence.” At Camp Innovation on the Ede Driesprong Defence Complex, the Ministry of Defence, together with companies and research institutions, tests how ‘off-grid’ and ‘stand-alone’ energy, water, and ICT infrastructure perform in combat situations. Think of mobile batteries for troops, such as the Flowbattery (Elestor) and the battery from Quintec. The Ministry of Defence also uses 3D printers here during exercises to repair damage—to both equipment and personnel—on the spot as quickly as possible. “We’ve already made significant progress in printing prosthetics, for example.”Medtech is a strong growth sector, in which Gelderland plays an important role through Radboud UMC. Witjes: “An active and growing network of 200 companies in data, AI, medtech, and biopharma has emerged around the academic medical center in Nijmegen. The company Hospitainer is a promising spin-off. They supply surgical units capable of accommodating 50 wounded soldiers until repatriation is possible. In the regions, you’ll find the expertise, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing industry needed for our strategic security.”In Twente, Twente Airport—part of Technology Base—offers the ideal secure location for testing new developments and technologies. The nearly 3-kilometer-long runway, the spacious airspace, and the secure facilities surrounding the airport are used for research. The aviation, defence, and unmanned sectors make use of these facilities.”&nbsp;<blockquote>The Eastern Netherlands has a strong, versatile manufacturing industry with a highly innovative character.</blockquote>In addition to such experimental space, East Netherlands also offers many knowledge institutions. Wendy de Jong, CEO of the Oost NL Development Agency (representing the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel): “In addition to the internationally renowned universities in Enschede, Nijmegen, and Wageningen, there are many universities of applied sciences offering programs in applied engineering, among other fields, as well as numerous vocational education institutions where manufacturing takes center stage.”Hoogland adds: “That, combined with the close collaboration between education, research, business, and government, makes the Eastern Netherlands home to a strong, versatile manufacturing industry with an extremely innovative character. We deliver high-tech and high-tech manufacturing of the highest caliber. We do not compete on labor or wages, but on quality and reliability.”<img src="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/defport1_2_Bronvermelden_Ministerie_van_Defensie_4de6ba5735.jpg?token=YClR_uli4eMkr6gB5PfHBWnqrYdolxfpfy4vWaoGmqk&amp;expires=1789028368" alt="defport1-2 - Bronvermelden Ministerie van Defensie.jpg" srcset="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/thumbnail_defport1_2_Bronvermelden_Ministerie_van_Defensie_4de6ba5735.jpg?token=K_RFHIDT83YPv_wRZ8A7wCvUconRFl4x_TpUKUx1oY8&amp;expires=1789028368 235w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/small_defport1_2_Bronvermelden_Ministerie_van_Defensie_4de6ba5735.jpg?token=sybm7TeyJRyIDtEH2eGIpSbubrQoRlREuya79jUQ_rQ&amp;expires=1789028368 500w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/medium_defport1_2_Bronvermelden_Ministerie_van_Defensie_4de6ba5735.jpg?token=POLoOdMMxlVchEKb7Jm6F1fY-m2U2BpEZU_PLSBAlpQ&amp;expires=1789028368 750w, https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/large_defport1_2_Bronvermelden_Ministerie_van_Defensie_4de6ba5735.jpg?token=dUbGXUlLAk_dEmt0CwqU26Nx8w7rQDvt0QDNlLNMzp0&amp;expires=1789028368 1000w" sizes="100vw" width="1000"> Source: Ministry of Defence<h1>Dual-use as a driver for the economy and society&nbsp;</h1>Ahead of the EWRC, Think East Netherlands is seizing the opportunity to highlight in Europe what East Netherlands excels at. De Jong: “In doing so, we’ll delve deeper into the three pillars of East Netherlands as a defence region: Health &amp; Resilience, Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, and Strategic Supply Chains. An innovative defence and dual-use product from the Eastern Netherlands is, for example, the intelligent sensors from Microflown (Arnhem). These are sold within the automotive sector, but also internationally to the defence sector.”<blockquote>Energy, food, and (medical) technology—all these areas contain innovations that defence can also utilize.</blockquote>The cross-pollination between societal issues and military challenges creates a flywheel effect. De Jong: “Whether it’s energy, food, or (medical) technology, all these areas contain innovations that the defence sector can also utilize. And if, for example, drones are developed at lightning speed, that innovation could provide a solution for the defence sector. Dual-use products are a driving force for the economy and society.”The following sources were consulted for this article:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.tubantia.nl/enschede/orders-orders-orders-waarom-defensie-bedrijven-in-oost-nederland-nodig-heeft~a5b61037/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&amp;cb=8916fd9d-f408-4b93-b7ec-9f4309b26889&amp;auth_rd=1">Tubantia: Waarom Defensie bedrijven in Oost-Nederland nodig heeft</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.berenschot.nl/nieuws/nl-defensie-en-veiligheidssector-groeit-sterk ">Berenschot: Nederlandse defensie en veiligheidssector groeit sterk</a>