VERENIGING HIGH TECH NL

Their core work

HIGH TECH NL (formerly operating as Point One) is the Dutch industry association representing companies and knowledge institutions in the high-tech, embedded systems, and advanced manufacturing ecosystem centered around Eindhoven. They function as an industry mobilizer: organizing clusters of SMEs and technology companies to participate in European innovation programs, access competence centers, and adopt advanced technologies developed in EU-funded research. In H2020, they contributed as an industry network partner — bringing SME communities into large European platforms covering cyber-physical systems and agri-food robotics. Their primary value to a consortium is access to a dense, high-quality industrial base in the Netherlands, especially in electronics, precision manufacturing, and systems integration.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first H2020 project (EuroCPS, 2015-2018), HIGH TECH NL's contribution was tied to the embedded and cyber-physical systems domain — a natural fit for an Eindhoven-based high-tech industry association. The absence of rich keywords from that period suggests a more foundational, network-building role. By 2019, their second project (agROBOfood) shows a clear thematic expansion: the keywords shift toward Digital Innovation Hubs, robotics, agri-food, open calls, and business innovation support — reflecting a broader sectoral mandate and a more structured intermediary role. The trend points toward HIGH TECH NL growing from a domain-specific CPS cluster into a general industrial digitalization enabler with cross-sector reach.

HIGH TECH NL is evolving from a narrow electronics/CPS cluster role toward a broader digital innovation intermediary, making them an increasingly relevant partner for any consortium needing structured SME engagement and DIH-style industry outreach across sectors.

How they like to work

HIGH TECH NL has never coordinated an H2020 project — they participate exclusively as a consortium partner, acting as an industry representative and network node rather than a project driver. Despite their modest funding (€570K total), they engaged with 52 unique partners across 18 countries, suggesting they participate in large, multi-stakeholder consortia where their role is to mobilize and represent industry rather than conduct research. This pattern is typical of industry associations: they add breadth to a consortium, not depth.

With 52 consortium partners spread across 18 countries from only 2 projects, HIGH TECH NL has a remarkably wide European footprint for their size — reflecting the large pan-European consortia typical of Digital Innovation Hub and CPS network projects. Their network is likely strongest in the Dutch high-tech corridor (Eindhoven/Brainport region) and across Western European manufacturing nations.

What sets them apart

HIGH TECH NL sits at the center of the Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem — one of Europe's most concentrated high-tech manufacturing and electronics clusters, home to companies like ASML, NXP, and Philips spinoffs. This gives them rare direct access to a dense industrial community that most academic or research partners cannot reach. For a consortium that needs credible SME engagement, industry adoption validation, or Dutch technology cluster representation, HIGH TECH NL offers a door that a university or research institute simply cannot open.

Highlights from their portfolio

• agROBOfood
  A long-running (2019-2024) Digital Innovation Hub network project connecting robotics technology with the agri-food sector across Europe, demonstrating HIGH TECH NL's ability to bridge hard-tech industry capabilities with an entirely different application domain.
• EuroCPS
  Their largest project by funding (€499,975), EuroCPS built a pan-European network of CPS competence platforms specifically for SMEs — establishing HIGH TECH NL's core role as an industry enabler in embedded and cyber-physical systems.