MINDBase, short for Military Innovation by Doing, is designed to bring defence challenges and solutions closer to the deep tech community. By co-locating with startups and scale-ups in high-tech regions, the Ministry aims to accelerate the development and application of breakthrough technologies for security and defence.
Vice Chief of Defence Ludy Schmidt and Director of Knowledge and Innovation at Defence/COMMIT Elise Teuben officially opened the office by releasing a drone that started on stage and flew into the office on the first floor.
With MINDBase at YES!Delft, we are strengthening the connection between defence and the innovation power of South Holland.”
– Ras Lalmy, Managing Director YES!Delft
Strategic location in South Holland’s Innovation hotspot
South Holland offers a unique talent, research, and entrepreneurship concentration, driven by institutions such as TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Leiden University. Many startups in the region are already collaborating with the defence sector, and this new MINDBase is set to deepen those ties.
To strengthen the collaboration in our region, a letter of intent was signed by:
- Gijs Tuinman, State Secretary for Defence
- Tjerk Opmeer, Deputy Director-General for Business and Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
- Meindert Stolk, Regional Minister for Economy & Innovation, Province of South Holland
- Lies van Kralingen, Interim Executive Board Member, InnovationQuarter
- Femke Brenninkmeijer, Chair, Economic Board South Holland
Showcasing next-gen defence technologies
During the launch, State Secretary Tuinman toured several startups from the YES!Delft ecosystem. One standout was Lobster Robotics, a company developing AI-driven underwater drones that can rapidly map the seabed. Already active in a NATO innovation program, their technology supports national security at a time when underwater threats are increasing, as noted in the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD)’s recent annual report.
Other tech ventures that presented their solutions included: Dawn Aerospace, Tective, T-Minus, QuantaMap, OPNT, Spherical Systems, Arceon, 3D Next Level, Delft Drone Initiative, and Emergent Swarm Solutions.
A platform for collaboration and impact
This new MINDBase is more than just a physical space, it’s a strategic bridge between defence needs and entrepreneurial innovation. The Ministry of Defence aims to co-create cutting-edge solutions that address real-world security challenges by embedding itself in this vibrant startup ecosystem.
