Werkbezoek met TU Delft en Science Port Holland aan Helsinki

Op 13 en 14 januari breng ik een werkbezoek aan Helsinki. Met een kleine delegatie met de TU Delft en Science Port Holland wordt gekeken naar de ontwikkeling van science parks in Finland. Wij bezoeken Technopolis Ltd en spreken met de directie en het bestuur. Daarnaast ontmoeten wij enkele aansprekende bedrijven, hoge ambtenaren van het gemeentebestuur en de burgemeester. Op de Nederlandse ambassade is een receptie waar wij de Nederlandse ambassadeur en zijn staf bijpraten over Delft. Hierna de tekst van een speech bij de ontvangst door de burgemeester van Helsinki om een indruk te krijgen waarover wij spreken.

 

 

It gives me great pleasure to address the Mayor and distinguished guests,

 

First of all, I would like to thank you warmly for this wonderful reception and for your hospitality. Both yesterday and this morning, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to become partially acquainted with your city.

 

When you first consider the two cities, there do not appear to be many similarities between Helsinki and Delft. For example, your city has more than five times more inhabitants. However, when you look a little more closely, you realise that Helsinki and Delft have a striking number of similarities.

 

Both cities are located in a delta. Therefore, water is of vital importance to both cities and also plays an important role in the economy.

 

Both cities have a particular fondness of culture. In the year 2000 (two thousand), your city was designated the European Capital of Culture, and Helsinki has been appointed the World Design Capital 2012 (two thousand and twelve). On a somewhat more modest scale, Delft has been appointed the Art City of the Netherlands 2010 (two thousand and ten). Delft is also in the race to be appointed the European Capital of Culture 2018 (two thousand and eighteen).

 

Both cities are home to many knowledge institutes, including trend-setting universities. In particular, the city of Delft is home to knowledge institutes involved in water and delta technology.

 

For many years, Delft has pursued a policy which encourages a strong focus on creating employment in the field of knowledge economy. More specifically, this means that Delft searches for investors sharing the same ambition, which is to expand knowledge economy.

 

Over the years, Delft has focussed sharply on creating space for science. This focus is part of a policy known in the Netherlands as the four Os policy, which translates as:

An investment in entrepreneurship, education and research, with direction and support from the government.

 

This refers to space in a literal sense. To the South and West of Delft, the Science Port Holland is slowly but surely undergoing development. The Science Port Holland represents a gathering of knowledge-intensive industriousness. In particular, institutes and businesses that deal with white biotechnology, water and delta technology and ICT and medical technology will have a specific place at this special site.

 

The creation of space also applies from an administrative point of view; sometimes zoning plans have to be amended, or physical space has to be made available. That policy has resulted in Deltares making vast investments in Delft; Deltares is one of the numerous knowledge institutes based at Science Port Holland. In the near future, a sizeable delta drain will be constructed in Delft; this drain is three hundred (300) meters in length, seven (7) metres wide and seven (7) metres deep. Scale-models of dikes, dams or dunes can be constructed in this drain then waves can be allowed to break against these in a controlled manner. This type of research delivers a considerable amount of knowledge which can subsequently be utilised when constructing dike systems and breakwaters.

 

This is knowledge that can be used not only in the Netherlands, but anywhere in the world.

Our visit will concentrate on knowledge and knowledge economy. Delft is specifically searching for collaborations with cities and universities involved in water and delta technology - cities and universities that are able to support and strengthen one another. These cities and universities can be situated anywhere in the world. Existing collaborations have already resulted in various Letters of Intent with Washington and Xi’an. We wonder whether a Letter of Intent relating to education and research might perhaps be an option with Helsinki? After all, both Helsinki and Delft are home to many knowledge institutes, knowledge workers and a highly educated working population. This is one of the reasons why both cities are dynamic cities that are prepared for the future.

 

It is not, of course, possible to provide an answer to this question without giving it proper consideration. I fully appreciate that. But both your city and my city attach considerable value to culture and knowledge economy and it is for that reason that I would like to warmly invite you to pay a visitto Delft at some point this year.

 

It would give us great pleasure to do everything we can to match the hospitality you have extended during this visit.

 

Delft, 13 januari 2010

Ronald Vuijk, wethouder