Makers meeting- Technologies and Knowhow for Manned and Unmanned Aircraft at Unmanned Valley Valkenburg

The afternoon began with a plenary session. Jan Verbeek of ADSE opened with insights into the direction of aviation markets and technologies. He was followed by Jan Terlingen of NLR, who spoke about recent developments in the drone sector and the need for a more coherent national approach. Martijn Asser from Scabro then shared practical experiences from the manufacturing side, including some of the hurdles involved in building and integrating drone systems today. These presentations led into a panel discussion, moderated by Mark Ommert from NAG, where speakers were joined by Matthijs de Haan (Saluqi) and Lennart Bult (Emergent Swarm Solutions). The conversation focused on integration, readiness for market uptake and the current gaps in the innovation pipeline.

Following the plenary, participants moved into smaller break-out groups. These covered themes such as airframe specialisation, electronics and control systems, propulsion and production readiness. Maarten Bach of KVE led the discussion on advanced airframe technologies, highlighting how material choices and production techniques influence the design process. At the same time, Edwin van der Hee from MBO College Airport steered a session on human capital and skills development, recognising that scaling the industry will require both technical talent and educational investment.

Throughout the day, a recurring theme was the Netherlands’ strong base of expertise in aerospace and drone technology. To fully unlock this potential, participants emphasised the need for a more coordinated national strategy, better access to early-stage funding and the development of full-scale testing facilities. Examples from other countries showed how strategic alignment between government and industry can accelerate innovation and bring new technologies to market more effectively.

Many expressed the need for stronger collaboration across sectors. More open testing, better alignment of development roadmaps and clearer responsibilities for public and private actors would help the Netherlands move faster and more decisively. There was a shared sense that the time is right to follow up with more in-depth technical sessions, targeted cooperation and a more visible joint platform to represent industry interests.

The Makers Meeting at Unmanned Valley made it clear that the knowledge, skills and ambition are already in place. What is needed now is direction, long-term vision and a commitment to working together across organisational boundaries. NAG is proud to play a role in connecting these efforts and looks forward to helping drive the next steps.