Rotterdam Region Launches Major Investment to Transform Schiedam into Netherlands' Tech Hub

2025-12-13 community

Schiedam, Saturday, 13 December 2025.
The Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague has established a steering committee to accelerate development of the 42-hectare Mechatronics Innovation Campus Schiedam, positioning the area as a leading technology center. The initiative aims to bridge critical skills gaps in advanced manufacturing by bringing together businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies on a single campus where students can learn alongside industry professionals. With companies like Metrohm already moving into new facilities and multiple buildings under construction, the project represents a strategic bet on mechatronics—the fusion of mechanics, electronics, and software—as essential for future economic competitiveness in the Netherlands.

Steering Committee Takes Charge of Regional Economic Strategy

The Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague formally established its steering committee for MICS on December 3, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s economic development strategy [1][6][7]. Led by executive explorer Doekle Terpstra and program manager Joost van der Veen, the committee comprises representatives from advanced manufacturing companies and educational institutions spanning vocational (vmbo), applied sciences (hbo), and university (wo) levels [1]. This governance structure reflects the integrated approach needed to address the complex challenges facing the Netherlands’ high-tech manufacturing sector, where companies urgently need skilled professionals while educational institutions seek better alignment with industry practices [1].

Campus Development Gains Momentum with Major Tenants

Physical progress on the MICS campus demonstrates the project’s transition from planning to reality, with several key milestones achieved throughout 2025. Metrohm, a global manufacturer of precision instruments for chemical analysis, received the keys to the Omega building on March 13, 2025, marking the first completed new construction within the campus [4][2]. The facility spans 7,350 square meters and accommodates 100 employees, representing a significant investment in the campus’s manufacturing capabilities [4]. This move required demolishing Metrohm’s former office, though the company prioritized maximum material reuse in line with sustainability objectives [2].

Addressing Critical Skills Shortage in Advanced Manufacturing

The urgency behind MICS development stems from acute labor market pressures facing the Netherlands’ high-tech manufacturing sector. Zuid-Holland province alone needs to educate an additional 2,000 technicians by 2030, particularly in high-tech and semiconductor sectors [2]. This skills gap threatens the region’s ability to maintain its competitive position in global markets, where advanced manufacturing capabilities increasingly determine economic success [1]. The campus design specifically addresses this challenge by bringing students physically closer to high-tech manufacturing operations, creating opportunities for practical learning alongside industry professionals [1].

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regional development mechatronics innovation