Big Science Business Forum 2026 technology conference to be held in Maastricht

Belgium and the Netherlands already collaborate in many areas of technology, such as nuclear research, semiconductors, nanotechnology and photonics. Both countries are also striving to bring the Einstein Telescope to Limburg. The BSBF conference gives high-tech companies the opportunity to improve their knowledge base and use it to develop technological products for new markets.

The largest European research organisations – such as CERN, ESA, ESRF and Fusion4Energy – inform entrepreneurs during the biennial BSBF about new technological developments, issues, procurement opportunities and opportunities for collaboration. These European institutes collectively account for billions of euros in investment plans. This makes them interesting for Dutch and Belgian high-tech businesses to collaborate with.

The Dutch network of Industrial Liaisons (ILO-net), together with the Belgian technology industry organisation Agoria, has taken the initiative to bring the conference to the high-tech region of Aachen-Leuven-Eindhoven with funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. ILO-net consists of the nine national research organisations that fall under the NWO institutes. The Belgian business umbrella organisation Agoria has 2,000 technology (SME) companies as members. The province of Limburg also supports the organisation of BSBF 2026.

Back to news overview