On September 23, 2025, the second edition of DEMOday took place at TU Delft. More than 20 startups from the aerospace sector showcased how they are working on smart and sustainable solutions. Visitors could follow pitches, engage with entrepreneurs, and get acquainted with the latest technologies.
DEMOday is the annual innovation event of the Aerospace Innovation Hub (AIH). During DEMOday, the AIH connects its community of young entrepreneurs, startups, student teams, and researchers with companies, governments, investors, and scientists. DEMOday contributes to strengthening the innovation climate in Delft and the South Holland region under the banner of Aerospace Delta by facilitating meetings, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Why aerospace is important
South Holland is the region in the Netherlands where aviation and space meet. Aerospace Delta South Holland is the most important ecosystem for aviation and aerospace in the Netherlands and is recognized as a leading European hub in aviation, upstream & downstream aerospace, and drones & urban air mobility. The sector delivers smart technology that we use daily or that can contribute to the transition to sustainable aviation. Think of satellites that measure climate change, drones that make inspections safer, or cleaner airplanes that contribute to more sustainable travel. Additionally, aerospace creates jobs, attracts international companies, and strengthens our economy.
Province supports innovation
Deputy Meindert Stolk (Economy and Innovation) spoke during DEMOday about the importance of collaboration and innovation, and how DEMOday contributes to this:
DEMOday shows that innovation starts with collaboration. By connecting students, researchers, startups, investors, companies, and governments, we accelerate the development of sustainable and safe aviation and aerospace. The presence and contribution of Prince Constantijn of Orange was a beautiful confirmation of the importance of this development.
The province of South Holland has been promoting an active startup and scale-up climate and has supported the development of the aerospace ecosystem for years. For example, through the Aerospace Innovation Hub at the TU Delft Campus and the NL Space Campus in Noordwijk. There is also collaboration with the Defense Ministry to develop knowledge and applications that contribute to safety and innovation.
Highlights of DEMOday
During DEMOday, visitors could get acquainted with various innovative ideas. For instance, a startup presented an electric aircraft that can travel shorter distances more cleanly in the future. Another company demonstrated how drones can assist in transporting cargo or monitoring agricultural areas. There were also innovations in satellite technology, artificial intelligence, and safety.
In addition to the startups, there were inspiring contributions from established players. Arnau Castillo Gonzalez from Collins Aerospace shared how they collaborate with students from TU Delft and young companies to bring new technology to market faster. Jeroen Wink from Dawn Aerospace, a space company that builds both space propulsion systems and a space launch vehicle, provided insight into how space travel will change in the coming years. And in a conversation with Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau, Special Envoy at Techleap, the discussion focused on how the Netherlands can help startups grow into international players.
Moving forward together
DEMOday 2025 showcased how strong collaboration is in South Holland. By bringing together young talent, researchers, startups, and established companies, new solutions emerge that are important not only for aviation and aerospace but also for themes such as sustainability, safety, and digital innovation.
With such meetings, we are building a strong economy and a better future together in South Holland.
