At Purple Nectar X Innovation in Defence, the annual innovation event of the Ministry of Defence, a wide range of dual-use innovations was showcased in early November. These are innovations that can provide value both to society at large and to civilian applications. Stimulating exactly this type of innovation is what the Brabant Development Agency (BOM) aims to do, in collaboration with other regional development agencies (ROMs).
Purple Nectar X Innovation in Defence: fostering mutual understanding
“It is inspiring to see what the Ministry of Defence is working on together with the business community,” says Mariëlle van Bijsterveld, venture developer at BOM. Together with Pepijn Herman (product developer at BOM and former entrepreneur) and Menno Smeelen (regional coordinator for Limburg at the Ministry of Defence), Van Bijsterveld gave a presentation during Purple Nectar. In it, they spoke about the collaboration between startups and scale-ups on the one hand, and Defence on the other.
Collaborating with startups and scale-ups is essential for realising innovations for Defence. Yet these are also two completely different worlds: that of the large Ministry of Defence and that of the relatively small, fast-paced startups and scale-ups.
“Entrepreneurs running a startup or scale-up go through a rollercoaster,” says Van Bijsterveld. “They have to adjust their course multiple times and continuously look for funding. It’s important to understand each other’s perspective. With presentations like these, we aim to foster that understanding.” For example, if an innovation project in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence is delayed by six months, this can have serious consequences for a startup that is right in the middle of a major investment round.
This principle works both ways. Entrepreneurs must also understand how the Ministry of Defence operates. Earlier, Van Bijsterveld therefore provided training sessions to entrepreneurs together with the Ministry. Questions addressed included: What is the relevance of dual-use for Defence? Which routes can entrepreneurs take? What practical requirements, procedures, and conditions apply?
Blue Magic: the international dimension
A week later, the international dimension became visible during Blue Magic in Eindhoven. This innovation and investment day was organised in the Netherlands for the first time last year, together with General Atomics and Lockheed Martin. As then, this year’s edition took place in collaboration with Brainport Development, NATO/DIANA, NIDV and BOM. The aim? To connect innovative Dutch companies with foreign parties that have industrial participation obligations.
These obligations stem from policies designed to strengthen the position of Dutch producers in the defence market. When the Ministry of Defence purchases military goods abroad, the government can request offset orders. The foreign company is then required to place orders with businesses in the Netherlands.
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During the pitches, entrepreneurs from across the Netherlands presented their innovations to a panel filled with heavyweights from organisations including General Atomics and Lockheed Martin. “Together with the other regional development agencies, we spent months arriving at a selection of pitches,” says Roland Grimm, Programme Manager at BOM. “In the end, together with the Blue Magic partners, we narrowed the original 60 pitches down to fifteen.”
Large companies such as General Atomics and Lockheed Martin can be of strategic importance to innovative Dutch ventures, says Ernst Coolen, Investment Director at BOM. “They can, for instance, help validate the technology. Later on, they may even become customers.”
NEDS: connecting with the established defence industry
The month concluded with the NEDS trade fair in Rotterdam, where government, industry and knowledge institutions came together around the latest technological innovations in the defence and security sector.
BOM was involved in the event, including through a booth hosted by the Invest in Holland network. The joint stand provided a central location to connect companies with partners, locations and expertise. The goal was to attract investments that contribute to a stronger, safer and more technologically advanced Netherlands.
The three events show that the ecosystem surrounding dual-use and Defence is growing rapidly. “The field of participants has really expanded at all of these events compared to previous years,” says Coolen. “We as BOM have played a major role in that. I’m confident in saying so.”
The three events make it clear that defence innovation in the Netherlands is entering a new phase, one in which structural collaboration is taking shape, with a key connecting role for BOM. That collaboration will only become more important in the years ahead.
The three pillars of defence innovation
BITS: accelerating innovation towards Defence
The collaboration between BOM and Defence is built on three pillars. One of these is BITS, an initiative co-founded by BOM, bringing together Defence, Brainport Development, the Province of North Brabant and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Its goal: to connect innovative civilian companies to defence needs and make technology applicable more quickly.
This approach is now being adopted nationwide. During Purple Nectar X Innovation in Defence, Defence, the regional development agencies (ROMs), provinces and industry signed a Letter of Intent to roll out this way of working across the Netherlands.
DIANA: international accelerator for dual-use technology
Since 2024, Brainport has been one of the accelerator locations within DIANA, NATO’s innovation programme. DIANA helps companies with dual-use technology accelerate their path toward military and civilian applicability, including access to test facilities, mentorship and an international network. Together with The Gate and Brainport Development, BOM runs a dedicated accelerator programme focused on Defence and the strengths of the region.
SecFund: €100 million for strategic technology
SecFund is a €100 million investment fund established by Defence, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the ROMs. The fund supports startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs working on technology that can be deployed both civilly and militarily. BOM manages the fund and, together with the ROMs, plays a central role in selecting and supporting companies.
