Technology Base can be roughly divided into two parts: the business campus and Twente Airport. The business campus is already benefiting from Technology Base’s new focus. All thirteen F16 shelters are currently rented out. Companies such as Dynteq, Space53, 4Silence and Ortega are working on innovative solutions there. “The demand for business sites is high”, says Schuring. “We see that the market is picking up from the renting of shelters. The advantage for companies is that these shelters are in shielded areas. They can test their products without people snooping. That appeals to companies.”
Building land
Aeronamic, a company from Almelo that, among other things, develops electric motors for aircraft, also recently concluded an agreement with Technology Base on the lease of an F16-shelter. That may not be all: the company has also taken an option for a building plot. And they are not the only ones. An area just behind some hangars has already been prepared for construction. The first new buildings will soon be built there. In total, there is room for 80 hectares of new buildings on the 220-hectare site of Technology Base. Schuring: “We expect other companies to follow now that the first large companies have settled here. The circumstances are very favourable for the business park.”
Schuring, therefore, has few worries about the future of the business campus. There is also a plan for making the airport area profitable. Twente Airport is currently being used for business jet flights, aircraft parking, the flying club and by aircraft disassembly company AELS. While they do provide income, it is not enough to make the airport break even.
Test site
A plan to change this has been in the works for two years. Twente Airport found the solution by making itself available as a test site for aviation innovations. Schuring: “There is a revolution in aviation. The industry has to be sustainable within the next 25 years and stop using kerosene. This means aircraft flying on hydrogen, electricity, or synthetic kerosene must be developed. Billions are invested in this revolution. All these innovations must be tested so that they are safe to fly with in the future.”
Twente Airport is an excellent test site, according to Schuring. “The big disadvantage of this airport is that we have too little air traffic; we have no passenger or cargo flights. That is a deadly combination for an airport, which is why we have a shortfall in revenue every year. We want to make it work in our favour now. There is plenty of room for testing, precisely because we have so little traffic. Companies can rent the airport for a day without there being all kinds of other planes taking off and landing.”
Economy
Technology Base is in talks with several parties that are interested in using the airport, and Schuring also senses enthusiasm from the business community in Twente. “They think it is very important for the airport to remain open for connectivity with the rest of Europe. Companies will be able to test innovations here in the coming years. When sustainable flying takes off, we can offer quiet and emission-free electric flights from Twente to locations in Europe. Both for the business market and for consumers.”
Technology Base will continue to give shape to the plans in the coming months. In Fly with Lucy and Electron Aviation, at least, it has already found two parties willing to start electric flights from Twente Airport. This development should boost Twente’s economy. “Mobility is a precondition for trade and activity. We create economic activity, which automatically leads to extra jobs and trade. Moreover, with the high-tech companies settling here, we make the Twente economy broader and stronger. That is a good thing for everyone.”
Date: 20 July 2023 |
Author: Willem Korenromp
