On 4 February, the Dutch NL@MWC ecosystem came together in The Hague for the official kickoff toward the tenth Dutch participation in MWC Barcelona. During the NL@MWC Kickoff at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, one thing became clear: the Netherlands is substantively, strategically, and organizationally ready to once again position itself strongly at the world’s largest technology and connectivity event.
The meeting, organized by Ecosystem Services, brought together representatives from government, industry, startups, and knowledge institutions around the key themes of this edition: digital sovereignty, sustainable innovation, and next-generation connectivity.
Strategic focus: from 6G to digital autonomy
The afternoon was opened by Angela van Diejen (Management Team member, Digital Economy) on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation and a strong Dutch position within European and global technological value chains.
Next, Frits Grotenhuis (Managing Director, Digital Holland) outlined how the Netherlands has developed in recent years into a recognizable and valued player within the MWC Barcelona ecosystem. In his presentation, Frits shared several quotes from language models on why MWC is such an important event: according to LeChat, MWC is “a barometer for the digital world,” and according to Gemini, “MWC is the most influential event in the technology calendar.”
A key substantive focus was placed on the future of connectivity. Paul Wijngaard provided an update on the 6G FNS program and the role of Dutch stakeholders within it. This vision was made concrete by Steven van Zanen (BroadForward), who explained from a practical perspective how innovations in telecom networks and core network solutions contribute to European technological independence. BroadForward has recently joined the FNS consortium.
He also shared his lessons learned on how a small company can make a big global impact, as well as the opportunities for government support—such as becoming a customer, putting companies in the spotlight, and strengthening international brand recognition through the strategic deployment of embassies or NBSOs.
Innovation, startups, and international market opportunitie
Startups and scale-ups also play a central role within NL@MWC. Marit Kuypers and Anton Duisterwinkel from Innovation Quarter provided an update on 4YFN (Four Years From Now) and the National Technology Strategy (NTS). Their message was clear: MWC Barcelona is not just a technology trade show, but above all an international meeting place where innovation, investment, and market access come together.
The broader European perspective was presented by Paul Timmers (professor at the universities of Leuven and Cyprus), who gave an update on the current state of the Eurostack and addressed technology policy, innovation capacity, and Europe’s position in an increasingly competitive geopolitical landscape. It became clear that there are major opportunities for European companies—provided governments are willing to take decisive action to enable true digital autonomy.
Three knowledge missions as in-depth content
An important part of the Dutch program during MWC Barcelona consists of three knowledge missions, which ensure participants see the highlights of Barcelona while also offering in-depth insights and direct access to international stakeholders. These are structured around three themes:
- Government, innovation, and sovereignty – led by Mark Beermann
- Digital Sustainability – focusing on impact and scalability, led by Femke Bartelds of the NCDD
- Private Networks innovation – led by domain expert Koen Mioulet of UlWiMo and PRIMMA
These missions closely align with the Netherlands’ strategic themes, linking them to the European and international ecosystem present at MWC for inspiration and alignment.
Visibility and media impact during MWC
In addition to content, attention was paid to positioning and visibility. Media partner Telecompaper, represented by Gijs van Beek, explained how the Netherlands can achieve stronger collective visibility during MWC Barcelona. The joint LinkedIn strategy was also discussed, aimed at increasing the reach and impact of the Dutch presence.
Opportunities for participants
MWC Barcelona is all about making new connections and generating leads. Paul Barreveld also presented the Innovation Challenge, in which 77 challenges from companies have been collected, offering organizations the opportunity to pitch their solutions.
The meeting concluded with practical information for participants, followed by a networking reception—a regular and valuable part of the NL@MWC community.
Join the Dutch! Become part of NL@MWC
The NL@MWC Kickoff in The Hague made it clear that the Netherlands is well prepared to travel to a jubilee edition of MWC Barcelona. Organizations and professionals who still wish to join the Dutch delegation or participate in one of the three knowledge missions can still register.
👉 Contact Mark Beermann or Anke Kuipers via info@ecosystemservices.nl for more information about participation, content, and opportunities within the NL@MWC program, or visit NLMWC.com.
MWC Barcelona is fast approaching, and the Netherlands is ready once again to make an international impact.