Delft Verbindt brought local entrepreneurs, professionals and community members together yesterday for its annual summer barbecue at De Buccaneer in Delft. This year’s theme, “Robots are Coming!”, gave the evening a future-focused angle, with a programme exploring how robotics is already being used in practice.
Rather than presenting robotics as a distant or theoretical development, the evening focused on concrete examples from entrepreneurs, designers, performers and public-sector representatives working with technology, innovation and automation. Through a speed carousel of short presentations, attendees heard different perspectives on how robotics is shaping business, design, performance and everyday life.
The programme included conversations with Sander Rave, project leader of the Dutch Innovation Festival, and Maaike Zwart, alderman at Gemeente Delft, who spoke about innovation and the role of Delft as a place where ideas, technology and collaboration come together.
Simone Keijzer, founder and CEO of Gearbox, gave a practical insight into how robotics already supports everyday shopping and supermarket supply chains. Her presentation showed how products such as punt paprika are packaged with the help of robotic systems, making visible part of the technology behind something many people buy without a second thought.
The creative side of robotics was brought strongly to life by Daniel Simu of AcroboxAGT and Dutch fashion-tech designer Anouk Wipprecht.
Daniel Simu, described as a creative technology performer, showed how acrobatics and robotics can interact in unexpected and engaging ways.
Anouk Wipprecht’s work demonstrated how fashion, technology and robotics can come together in striking, intelligent and highly imaginative designs.
Together, all the presentations showed that robotics is not only a technical subject, but also a practical, creative, economic and social one. From supermarket logistics to performance and fashion-tech, the evening highlighted how technology can open up new ways of working, making and connecting.
Despite some heavy rain, the barbecue was a great evening, with delicious food and De Buccaneer providing a welcoming and atmospheric location for the event.
An exciting offer at the event was that attendees were given the opportunity to attend the new Willem van Oranje musical next week. Delft Online will also be there and looks forward to sharing more about this major new cultural production in Delft.
Events such as Delft Verbindt show the value of bringing people together across sectors, especially in a city with such a strong connection to technology, entrepreneurship, culture and innovation.
What is Delft Verbindt?
Delft Verbindt is a foundation that aims to connect entrepreneurs across Delft. The initiative was started by several local organisers with long-standing experience in city-wide business events, who saw the value of working together to create a stronger platform for meeting, exchanging ideas and encouraging collaboration. Delft Verbindt currently organises two free gatherings per year for entrepreneurs in the city, with changing locations and catering partners. The foundation is supported by a steering group and working groups, with representatives from organisations including Ondernemersfonds Delft, MKB Delft, Rabobank, VNO-NCW Delft, KHN Delft and Werkse.
What is Delft Online?
Delft Online is an English-language community platform sharing news, events, stories and practical information for internationals and internationally minded locals in Delft and the surrounding area. We are a social enterprise with a focus on community and inclusion.
This site was established in 2022 by Renée Tentori as a sister site to The Hague Online, which has been sharing English-language news, events and information for the international community for 21 years.
Delft has its own strong identity, international community, cultural life and innovation ecosystem, and deserves its own dedicated English-language platform. Delft Online is still growing, with the aim of highlighting more local stories, events and initiatives in English for people who live, work, study in or regularly visit Delft.
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