Together, we can shape a more organic future. To face global food challenges, our food systems must become sustainable, resilient, and practical. Organic farming offers an important way forward. It supports biodiversity, protects soil health, cares for animals, and strengthens ecosystems.

At the same time, organic food must also work in daily practice. That is why this year’s programme focuses on the organic business case. Many organisations see the value of organic food, but costs, higher prices, and availability can slow progress. With this programme, we explore solutions, share best practices, and show how organisations can make organic choices clearer and more effective.

The Netherlands and Germany share similar ambitions. Both countries invest in organic farming, from new markets and business models to more organic options in supermarkets, healthcare, and public spaces. By learning from each other and working together, we can improve availability, grow demand, and build a stronger organic market.

At BIOFACH 2026, we highlight connection, cooperation, and shared learning. Join us to discover how we can co-create practical, sustainable solutions for a future-proof organic food system.

Shaping an organic future together!

The Republic of Korea and the Netherlands are both advanced, outward-looking economies with a strong focus on innovation, technology and sustainable growth. As highly developed knowledge economies, we share a pragmatic approach to innovation: combining research excellence with real-world applications. Both countries value long-term collaboration between government, business and knowledge institutions as a driver of economic and societal progress.

This economic mission brings together partners from both countries to explore collaboration in two key sectors: horticulture and semiconductors. By connecting complementary expertise, we aim to contribute to resilient food systems, digital transformation and sustainable economic growth, together.

By deepening collaboration in horticulture and semiconductors, this mission contributes to sustainable growth, technological leadership and resilient systems, benefiting both countries and the global economy.

Advancing horticulture and semiconductor solutions together

From 9–11 June, discover the future of horticulture!

GreenTech is coming to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This international event is the place to see the latest innovations in horticulture and sustainable technology.
Visitors can explore new products, attend inspiring talks, and connect with experts from around the world.

Whether you are a professional, a student, or just curious about green technology, GreenTech 2026 has something for everyone.

Don’t miss this chance to experience the future of horticulture. Plan your visit and join us in Amsterdam!

How can one square kilometre change the future of cancer treatment? In the heart of Utrecht Science Park, five world-leading institutions - UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, the Hubrecht Institute, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - have joined forces under the banner of Utrecht Cancer.

They form the largest and most multidisciplinary cancer research community in Europe, creating immense impact, from fundamental research to clinical application to accelerate breakthroughs that improve the lives of children, adults, and animals living with cancer. Since 2008, cancer has been the leading cause of death in the Netherlands. In 2024 alone, nearly 130,000 people received the diagnosis; a number that will climb to well over 150,000 annually within the next decade, according to the Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland (IKNL) trend report, (trends & forecasts up to 2032). The trend is unmistakable, and the urgency has never been greater.

Utrecht Cancer is meeting this challenge with a vision that is as ambitious as it is essential: by uniting knowledge, talent, and resources, they are accelerating discoveries and transforming them into better treatments for patients worldwide. In this way, they demonstrate why Utrecht stands as the Heart of Health, collaborating with partners to shape a healthier and more sustainable world.
 

Collaboration for real-world impact

This is cancer research rooted in collaboration, and designed to turn the most complex science into real-world impact. Cancer is one of the most complex diseases of our time, shaped by processes at the smallest cellular level and by the broader environment in which tumours grow. Solving this puzzle demands many disciplines working hand in hand, that’s why proximity matters.

Within walking distance at Utrecht Science Park, more than 1,200 researchers and a strong network of public and private partners share labs, knowledge, and ideas. This physical closeness creates the kind of cross-pollination that turns cutting-edge science into better treatments, faster. With 30,000 staff and 55,000 students, Utrecht Science Park is an ecosystem where breakthroughs accelerate. And it’s already changing lives.
 

Image

Cycling along the famous rainbow cycle path illustrates the physical closeness of Utrecht Science Park.
 

Just 3 examples of Utrecht Cancer breakthroughs

1. Sturgeon 
When a child lies on the operating table with a brain tumour, every minute counts. Until recently, surgeons had to wait an entire week for lab results to reveal how aggressive the tumour was, often leading to a second, highly invasive operation. Thanks to a collaboration between the Jeroen de Ridder lab at UMC Utrecht and neurosurgeons at the Princess Máxima Center, that wait is over. Together they developed Sturgeon, a groundbreaking AI algorithm that can read the tumour’s genetic profile in just 20 to 40 minutes. Surgeons now get the answers they need during the operation itself, adapting their plan on the spot and sparing young patients a second surgery.

2. Organoids
At Utrecht Cancer, scientists are growing tiny 3D models of human tumours from patient stem cells. These living miniatures are transforming the way new therapies are tested, making it possible to predict how a treatment will work before a patient ever receives it. In Utrecht, organoids are already pushing forward research into head and neck cancers, while ‘urinoids’, (bladder cancer models grown from urine samples), are opening entirely new frontiers in precision medicine. Here, the Hubrecht Institute, UMC Utrecht and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are joining forces to bring truly personalised cancer treatment within reach.

3. Collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
At UMC Utrecht’s internationally acclaimed Department of Radiotherapy, doctors are redefining cancer treatment with cutting-edge image-guided techniques. Their strength lies in a rare partnership with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where animal cancer care is woven directly into scientific research. This unique collaboration bridges human and veterinary oncology, enabling discoveries that benefit both patients and pets. It reflects Utrecht Cancer’s broader vision: linking human, animal, and environmental health, while paving the way for future innovations that are not only effective, but increasingly animal-free.

The message is clear: cancer is too complex for one lab, one hospital, or one discipline to solve alone. But together, we can. And that’s New Dutch!

Florida and Texas know firsthand what it means to live with water. From hurricanes and storm surge to inland flooding and extreme rainfall, flood risk is a constant challenge that threatens communities, infrastructure, and economic continuity. As these risks grow more frequent and complex, businesses and governments need solutions that are practical, proven, and ready to deploy. The Dutch Flood Resilience Solutions partnership brings together the Netherlands’ world-leading flood expertise with U.S. local knowledge to deliver exactly that. Built as a public-private partnership of innovative companies, research institutions, and government agencies, the collaboration focuses on working side by side with U.S. partners to reduce risk, protect investments, and keep cities and businesses running, before, during, and after flood events.

Our partnership offers a comprehensive, one-stop approach to flood resilience, based on the Dutch principle of multi-layered safety. Solutions span the full timeline of flood risk: short-term emergency response, medium-term monitoring and early warning, and long-term planning, design, and adaptation. From predictive modeling and data-driven early warning systems to rapidly deployable flood barriers, pumping solutions, and resilient infrastructure design, every solution is tailored to local conditions and backed by globally recognized expertise, including TU Delft and Deltares. With a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and scalability, we invite stakeholders to work together to build stronger, safer, and more flood-ready communities across the southern United States.

Join us in tailoring flood resilience!

Digital transformation in 2026 is no longer about chasing the next breakthrough technology. It is about how different technologies come together and how countries turn that convergence into something that lasts. Artificial intelligence, quantum, cyber security, semiconductors, connectivity, and life sciences are increasingly shaping one another. Together, they are redefining how societies innovate, how economies stay resilient, and how people experience the impact of digital change in everyday life.

This article explores that convergence through two key lenses: SURF Tech Trends 2026, which maps the technological shifts ahead, and the Dutch National Technology Strategy, which outlines how the Netherlands is building the foundations to respond. By looking at these technologies not in isolation, but as part of a connected system, we dive into how digital transformation is evolving from a collection of trends into a shared, strategic capability.

From experimentation to impact: building AI on trust

Artificial intelligence sits at the centre of today’s digital transformation, but by 2026, it is no longer about experimentation or efficiency alone. AI is increasingly used to support complex decisions, accelerate scientific discovery, and improve how systems work in practice. In the Netherlands, this shift is shaped by an ecosystem that brings together researchers, startups, and public partners around a shared question: how do we make AI powerful and trustworthy? The answer lies in close collaboration between software, specialised hardware, and energy-efficient computing, connecting digital innovation directly to the country’s strengths in semiconductors and high-tech systems.

As digital systems grow more complex, trust becomes a defining condition for transformation. Cyber security in 2026 is no longer an add-on, but a foundational layer. AI-driven attacks, geopolitical tensions, and emerging quantum threats are reshaping how organisations think about risk. In response, Dutch innovation ecosystems, particularly those clustered around high-tech campuses and research institutions, are working on integrated approaches where security, hardware, and software are designed together. This integrated approach reflects a broader national priority: safeguarding digital trust as a prerequisite for innovation, economic stability, and international collaboration.

Preparing for what comes next: quantum, chips, and the foundations beneath

Quantum technologies mark another transition point. If the past decade was about proving what quantum could do, 2026 is about preparing for where it fits. Hybrid classical quantum systems begin to appear in research, quantum sensing opens new doors in healthcare and materials science, and quantum-safe security moves from concept to reality. Through national initiatives and closely connected regional hubs, the Netherlands is asking a bigger question: what happens when quantum moves out of the lab and into the system? The answer is taking shape as quantum capabilities are deliberately embedded into the wider digital infrastructure.

Beneath the quantum hype lies a foundation too often taken for granted. Semiconductors and photonics form the backbone of digital transformation, enabling everything from AI acceleration to high-speed data transfer. As global demand increases and supply chains come under pressure, these technologies have become strategic assets rather than industrial commodities. Dutch clusters in photonics and chip design demonstrate how deep-tech innovation, talent development, and industrial collaboration can reinforce Europe’s technological resilience while remaining globally connected.

Where systems connect: infrastructure, people and everyday impact

Behind every digital breakthrough is a simple requirement: connection. Reliable networks allow researchers to collaborate across continents, enable industries to operate in real time, and support healthcare systems that increasingly depend on data. For the Netherlands, connectivity is not just infrastructure, it is the backbone of international cooperation and shared innovation. Investing in connectivity means ensuring that ideas, data, and expertise can move freely, turning local innovation into global impact.

Nowhere is this convergence more visible than in life sciences and health. Here, digital transformation directly impacts people’s lives. AI-driven diagnostics, data-intensive research, and personalised medicine rely on advanced computing, secure data sharing, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dutch life-science hubs bring together universities, hospitals, startups, and industry partners, illustrating how digital infrastructure and human-centric innovation reinforce one another. A win-win for everyone. 

And beneath all these technologies lies another strategic layer: raw materials and advanced materials research. From semiconductors to quantum devices, innovation depends on access to scarce resources and sustainable supply chains. Research institutes and public-private collaborations in the Netherlands are increasingly focused on circularity and material efficiency, recognising that digital transformation cannot be separated from physical and environmental realities.

One system, one message

What emerges from the 2026 outlook is not a collection of trends, but a connected system. Artificial intelligence depends on computing infrastructure. Cyber security underpins trust across individual, societal and infrastructure layers. Quantum reshapes what is computable. Semiconductors and photonics enable performance and efficiency. Connectivity ensures scale. Life sciences translate technology into societal value. Materials secure long-term resilience.

The Netherlands’ strength lies in embracing this systems approach. By aligning technological innovation with national strategy, ecosystem collaboration, and long-term responsibility, the country is not only adapting to digital transformation, it is actively shaping its direction.