The first VIP Innovation Day was held on 27 September 2024. The goal of this day was to boost innovation together with asbestos professionals. There were around 60 attendants, including asbestos removers, suppliers, producers, asbestos inventory specialists, commissioning clients and people from government, advisory agencies, laboratories and knowledge institutes.
Dr Bert Hiemstra, the independent chair of the VIP, walked the attendees through the foundation and working method of the VIP. He also outlined current developments, connecting these to prospects for the future of the VIP.
Pascal van der Ploeg, from the company Batteryspray, shared his experiences with submitting a request to the VIP and his experiences following national validation. In doing so, he provided a great overview of what is going well and what could be improved, as well as how the VIP could continue to develop.
Professor Nadine Roijakkers, professor of Open Innovation at the Open University, used academic research and successful examples from practice to demonstrate the importance of collaboration for successful innovation in complex sectors such as the asbestos sector.
New ideas about innovative collaboration
During the afternoon portion, the attendees split up into groups to brainstorm about possibilities for innovation in the asbestos sphere of activity, putting collaboration, the importance of which was discussed during the morning’s presentation, into concrete practice. The workshop resulted in various good ideas for new collaborations, both for concrete problems in practice and at system level.
Trust in the VIP
The VIP looks back at the first VIP Innovation Day with positive feelings. Looking at opportunities rather than limitations has resulted in concrete ideas. The participants also expressed their trust in the VIP by indicating that they would like the VIP to take on a broader role in boosting innovation. The VIP will discuss the ideas and tips brought forward with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.
Click here to download all the presentations (in Dutch) from the VIP Innovation Day.