New military tech hub opens at TU Delft to explore military drones, quantum computing

The Dutch military's new Defense White Paper, published this week, envisions drones becoming a cornerstone of future operations. To support that transformation, the Ministry of Defense is relying on close collaboration with universities and industry, with all three sectors working together at a new secure innovation hub at TU Delft, the Delft University of Technology.

At the opening of the MIND Tech Centre on Wednesday, State Secretary of Defense Derk Boswijk said that “ambitions on paper are being turned into practice here.” He added that more such sites are needed and pointed to potential locations in Eindhoven and the Achterhoek, where defense technology company Thales already operates.

The center is intended to accelerate the development of drones, as well as emerging technologies such as underwater sensors, satellite systems, and quantum technology. The Ministry of Defense aims to allow start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to test and experiment within the new center.

The fact that this is happening in a highly secure environment makes the initiative “unique,” said Elise Teuben of COMMIT. The defence organization is responsible for military equipment and IT.

The war in Ukraine illustrates how future warfare is evolving, where weapons systems rapidly become outdated and must be continuously replaced or upgraded. According to former Deputy Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko in a video message, this makes close collaboration between engineers and military personnel essential.

Boswijk aims to remove the “barrier” separating Defense, industry, and academia. Jeroen Rotteveel of satellite company ISISPACE says it is currently difficult to reach the right contacts, but believes the MIND Tech Centre could help improve that.

According to Zuid-Holland provincial councillor Meindert Stolk, Delft shows what good cooperation can look like, noting that the innovation center was completed in under a year, an achievement he calls “very fast.”