The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area faces major challenges in the field of responsible digitization, sustainable innovation and an agile education & labor market. Amsterdam Economic Board translates this into concrete action. General manager Nina Tellegen talks about our strategy for the next five years.
Above all, a smart, green and healthy region must also become an inclusive region. That is how Pantar director Lex de Boer feels. With a membership of the Network Council, he hopes that the social development company can contribute to this.
One of the themes the Amsterdam Economic Board is working on is ensuring that talent with the right skills can be deployed and that 'lifelong development' becomes part of the DNA of the working population. Not only now during the corona crisis, but also due to far-reaching technological developments, the need to reduce the mismatch in the labor market is reinforced. To give this movement extra strength, House of Skills will also be linked to the Amsterdam Economic Board as of April 1, in addition to the existing TechConnect program. House of Skills develops skills tools and a chain approach to experiments with these in pilots and career paths from work to work.
The energy transition is being delayed somewhat due to the current corona crisis. But Franc Weerwind and Hans Bakker note that there are also plenty of opportunities: not only thanks to high-quality new technology and new companies, but also in heavy industry and an abundance of unpicked low-hanging fruit. "What we do in terms of sustainability is unique."
On 2 December, the first results were presented for a number of themes within the Green Deal Sustainable out of the crisis - on which the Board is working with partners - during the 'State of the Region' event. The aim is to accelerate current initiatives in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area in a short period of time. The reset of the current pandemic provides scope for making sustainable choices.
In order to achieve the energy transition, we need to be smart with data. And that can also be done in a transparent and democratic way, think Marleen Stikker and Koen Overtoom. 'I think the system will tilt anyway, but I still find it exciting how we can achieve that.'
We will not make it by reducing alone. A future-proof, sustainable region requires a major system change and talent development also plays an important role in this. Melek Usta and Dick Benschop therefore believe that lifelong learning should be given more attention. "Isn't it crazy that you don't get an enormous dynamic at the MBO and HBO courses from people who are continuously updating their quality and competences?"
We often talk about talent with and at Young on Board. Also as part of our 'triptych' sessions in which young game changers, experts from the field and board members have their say in three different sessions. The highlight of the triptych is an issue of one of the Board members that lies far in the future and is still very uncertain. A challenge that calls for a critical look and questions that can be quite abrasive. Young on Board enters into conversation and looks for the pain and the gain. Without offering immediate solutions, with extra food for thought (and sometimes material to ignite).
If it were up to Atilla Aytekin and Jeroen Verwoort, the Board will not only work on a smart, green and healthy region, but also on an entrepreneurial region. "The energy transition in our region, in the port and at Schiphol must become a business case that is interesting for the whole world."
The smart, green and healthy region that the Board organizations are working on can only be achieved if organizations in the region work together on it: Geert ten Dam and Robert Metzke are convinced of this. 'Only if you have everyone at the table will you arrive at valuable solutions.'
