We Need to Decide Whether We Want to Be Buyers or Sellers
Brainport Development on regional strengths, industrial competitiveness, and the road to Drive Forward 2027
With one year to go until Drive Forward 2027, preparations for the next edition of Europe's leading mobility and automotive conference are well underway. As part of our journey towards the event, we're speaking with key figures who help shape the themes, discussions and ambitions behind Drive Forward.
This time, we spoke with Naomie Verstraeten of Brainport Development about the power of regional collaboration, the future of Europe's manufacturing industry, and the technologies that will define tomorrow's competitiveness.
Making Innovation Visible
Looking back at the previous edition of Drive Forward, Naomie highlights one key takeaway: the importance of making innovation visible.
"What Drive Forward showed me is how important it is to showcase innovation projects. Not only to create new connections between companies and knowledge institutions, but also to demonstrate to public stakeholders what investments in innovation actually deliver."
According to Naomie, these interactions create the foundation for new collaborations and initiatives. At the same time, the event sparked important discussions about Europe's future position in the global automotive landscape.
"Drive Forward created space for meaningful conversations about where the future earning power of the automotive industry lies for both the Netherlands and Europe. It also became clear that certain European regulations can sometimes unintentionally hinder innovation."
A Strong Region Cannot Afford to Stand Still
The Brainport region continues to perform strongly from an economic perspective. Yet Naomie sees no room for complacency.
"We face many of the same challenges that other successful economic regions around the world are dealing with today: urbanisation, increasing demand for housing, growing companies, and a shortage of technical talent."
However, she believes the most important strategic question goes even deeper.
"The next challenge is deciding whether we want to be buyers or sellers. Do we want to continue developing and producing technology ourselves, or become dependent on others?"
To maintain its position, Europe must accelerate the automation and robotisation of its manufacturing industry. At the same time, the energy transition presents both challenges and opportunities.
"The energy shortages we are facing are a challenge, but they also create enormous opportunities for our manufacturing sector."
Technology as the Foundation of Competitiveness
As the conversation turns towards Drive Forward 2027, it becomes clear that many of today's challenges are directly linked to the themes the conference aims to address. According to Naomie, Europe's future competitiveness depends on maintaining critical knowledge and industrial capabilities.
"The availability of expertise in chip design, semiconductors and photonic sensors is crucial. But equally important is our ability to industrialise these innovations. We need to retain the capability to move from low-volume production to large-scale manufacturing."
The ability not only to invent technology, but also to manufacture it, will play a decisive role in Europe's future economic strength.
The Breakthrough Between Vehicles and Infrastructure
Looking ahead to Drive Forward 2027, Naomie is particularly excited about one area of innovation.
"I hope to see a real breakthrough in the connection between vehicles and infrastructure."
She believes this will be an important part of addressing one of today's biggest challenges: grid congestion.
"Projects such as Charging Energy Hubs demonstrate how smart interaction between vehicles, energy infrastructure and digital systems can unlock significant opportunities. I hope Drive Forward will help create new partnerships that accelerate these developments."
An Unexpected Conversation Partner
Finally, we asked Naomie who she would most like to meet at Drive Forward 2027. Her answer may surprise some.
"Defence."
Why? Because many of the technologies that will shape the future of mobility are becoming increasingly relevant to security and strategic autonomy.
"The solutions being developed in the fields of green and smart mobility will be essential for the defence operations of the future. That requires new forms of collaboration between sectors that do not traditionally work closely together."
For Naomie, that is exactly what makes Drive Forward valuable: bringing together different worlds to discuss how Europe can strengthen its position in mobility, technology and manufacturing.
Drive Forward 2027 will take place on 14&15 April 2027 at the Automotive Campus in Helmond, the Netherlands.
