WoTS 2026 shows the Netherlands how we are working today on the world of tomorrow: The route to future prosperity.
The Wennink Report outlines a clear course: investing in technology, innovation, and productivity is essential for our future prosperity. The solutions needed lie partly in policy, but primarily in collaboration between industry, science, and technology providers. WoTS 2026 shows the Netherlands how we are working today to shape the world of tomorrow: The route to future prosperity.
The road to future prosperity. A strong Netherlands in a relevant Europe[1] The report presents a clear but urgent message: the Netherlands must invest specifically in technology, innovation, and a better functioning ecosystem to secure our future prosperity. The report calls for collaboration, practical solutions, and a strong focus on productivity. The route to future prosperity leads to the world of tomorrow through WoTS 2026. From September 22nd to 25th, 2026, FHI will host the WoTS 2026 in Jaarbeurs Utrecht. World of Industry, Technology & Science (WoTS)[2]The technology trade fair that brings together knowledge and industry.
Increasing productivity through technological advancements
A central message from The route to future prosperity The Netherlands needs to increase productivity to keep the economy future-proof. This requires targeted investments in digitalization, life sciences, automation, AI, energy innovations, and new materials.
At WoTS 2026, you'll see these technologies in their full breadth. The different worlds on the show floor – Industry, Electronics and Laboratory – demonstrate how productivity gains work in practice. Consider:
- smart sensors and measuring systems that control production in real time.
- robotics and autonomous operations that make processes safer and more efficient.
- Data-driven automation that allows you to switch faster and plan maintenance better.
- energy-efficient installations that help companies reduce costs.
This is immediately applicable for technical experts. You'll see not only what the technology can do, but also how to integrate it into an existing production environment. This aligns WoTS 2026 with the pragmatic approach of the report: the transition from vision to productivity growth.
From knowledge to application: the innovation ecosystem in motion
The route to future prosperity also identifies a structural challenge: the Netherlands is strong in knowledge production, but misses opportunities in translating research into market-oriented innovation. The transition from startup to scale-up, in particular, often stalls.
WoTS 2026 demonstrates how this gap is closing. The trade fair brings together science, technology, and industry. Visitors can navigate between these different worlds, providers, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs. Precisely the crossover that the report highlights as a success factor.
In pavilions like the Student Innovation Pavilion, you'll meet new talent. In the World of Laboratory, you'll see how research innovations are translated into industry and healthcare. And in the seminar rooms, you can discuss directly with experts how to scale up research to production.
Technology as an answer to the preconditions for growth
The growth of Dutch companies is under pressure due to bottlenecks such as grid capacity, high energy costs, rising material prices and the shortage of technical talent.
These challenges will also return at WoTS 2026:
- smart energy solutions and energy management systems.
- digitalization that allows you to optimize processes and reduce energy consumption.
- cybersecurity solutions that protect your production environment.
- automation that partially addresses shortages of technical personnel.
The topics of discussion at the fair, such as food safety, autonomous operations and sustainable production, provide technical depth to the social themes from the report. You see not only that there are problems, but especially that there are concrete technologies that help solve them.
Connection as an accelerator: WoTS 2026 as a network platform
Innovation only has an impact if companies collaborate, share knowledge and dare to invest on a scale.
This is precisely where WoTS 2026 stands out. The trade fair serves as a neutral platform where technology providers, end users, researchers, and developers connect. The interaction on the exhibition floor is often the starting point for new pilot projects, partnerships, or product improvements.
With thousands of visitors and hundreds of exhibitors, WoTS 2026 will serve as a catalyst for innovation. You can switch between multiple disciplines, current themes, and practical examples in a single day. This simplifies the step from planning to implementation; a point that is emphasized in The route to future prosperity is central.
The route to future prosperity
The report outlines a clear course: investing in technology, innovation, and productivity is essential for our future prosperity. The solutions needed lie partly in policy, but primarily in collaboration between industry, science, and technology providers. WoTS 2026 shows the Netherlands how we are working today to shape the world of tomorrow: The route to future prosperity.
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