On 28 and 29 October 2026, over 1,000 representatives of European high-tech companies and major research organisations will descend on MECC Maastricht for the 2026 edition of the Big Science Business Forum (BSBF 2026). They will meet to exchange the knowledge necessary for exploring partnerships in the field of high-technology development. This two-day conference is organised jointly by the Netherlands and Belgium, specifically by the Dutch network of Industrial Liaison Officers (ILO-net) and the Belgian technology trade association, Agoria. The organisers will also receive support from Dutch and Belgian ministries (Economic Affairs; Education, Culture and Science; Belgian Science Policy Office) and the Province of Limburg. Previous editions of the Big Science Business Forum were held in Copenhagen (2018), Granada (2022) and Trieste (2024).
Securing BSBF 2026 is the result of cooperation with several regional and national partners, including the Dutch ILO-net, the Belgian Agoria, PCO Klinkhamer Conferences & Events, Maastricht Convention Bureau and MECC Maastricht. The contract was officially signed this week at MECC Maastricht by Jan Visser, Coordinator for Nikhef Industrial Contacts and ILO-net; Arjen van Rijn, Nikhef Institute Manager; Frank Mimpen, MECC Maastricht Commercial Director; and Sandra van den Berk, MECC Maastricht Business Development Manager.
Jan Visser, Industrial Contacts Coordinator at Nikhef and coordinator of the Dutch industrial liaison officers: ‘It’s an honour to co-host this important event with Belgium. It specifically offers companies in the Netherlands, Belgium and the Maastricht region that are interested in working for Big Science organisations a unique chance to learn more about these organisations in their own region during a two-day event and determine where the opportunities lie for applying their specific competencies in technology to making scientific research possible.’
More info: www.bsbf2026.org
Picture at top of page, from left to right:
Sandra van den Berk – MECC Maastricht Business Development Manager, Jan Visser – Industrial Contacts at Nikhef and Coordinator of the Dutch Industrial Liaison Officers, Arjen van Rijn – Nikhef Institute Manager, and Frank Mimpen – MECC Maastricht Commercial Director.
Picture, from left to right:
Ingrid Grimbergen – Maastricht Convention Bureau Marketing & Communications Manager, Frank Mimpen – MECC Maastricht Commercial Director, Jan Visser – Industrial Contacts at Nikhef and Coordinator of the Dutch industrial liaison officers, Arjen van Rijn – Nikhef Institute Manager, Desiree Coenen – Klinkhamer Conferences & Events project manager, Sandra van den Berk – MECC Maastricht Business Development Manager, Anna Dushyna – Maastricht Convention Bureau Business Development Manager for Associations, and Niels Klinkhamer – Managing Director Klinkhamer Conferences & Events.
