After the successful ‘Energy Transition’ edition last November, Amsterdam Trade & Invest organised a second Business Lunch on 4 February 2026. The event took place in Amsterdam Airport City, the international business hub of Haarlemmermeer.
The lunch brought together decision-makers from international companies that play a significant role in digitalisation. The session was chaired by Mayor Marianne Schuurmans-Wijdeven of Haarlemmermeer and connected both private and public stakeholders.
As part of the Metropolitan Area Amsterdam, Amsterdam Airport City is positioned as a leading international business location where global connectivity, advanced digital infrastructure and innovation converge. This Business Lunch once again underlined the strength of the area as a place where public and private partners actively collaborate to accelerate knowledge sharing, innovation and economic resilience.
“Digitalisation is not an abstract ambition for Haarlemmermeer. It is a practical enabler for economic resilience across sectors. By bringing public and private partners together, we strengthen the ecosystem that allows innovation, productivity and sustainable growth to flourish,” said Marianne Schuurmans-Wijdeven, the Mayor of Haarlemmermeer.
Cooperation as the engine of a strong business ecosystem
A central takeaway from the discussion was the power of cooperation between companies and government. Digitalisation is not a standalone sector, but a cross-cutting force that enables progress in IT, high tech, logistics, manufacturing and consumer goods.
Participants represented all layers of the digital ecosystem: applications and services, software and platforms, and the underlying hardware and digital infrastructure.
By bringing these perspectives together around one table, the lunch created space for knowledge exchange, mutual understanding and concrete opportunities for collaboration.
Rather than focusing on individual interests, the conversation highlighted how ecosystem thinking, connecting complementary roles and expertise, is essential to support scalable growth, innovation and long-term competitiveness in Amsterdam Airport City.
An attractive business environment, talent and CSR
Another key theme was the importance of an attractive business environment and a strong employment proposition. Well-educated talent plays a key role in this fast-moving field of digitalisation. The growing importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of an attractive employment proposition was also discussed.
Companies increasingly view responsible digitalisation, sustainability and social impact not only as obligations, but as strategic assets for attracting and retaining talent. A strong talent base contributes directly to a healthy business climate.
“Talent today looks beyond jobs alone. They look for purpose, responsibility and impact. By embedding CSR into digital growth, we strengthen our position as an attractive place to work, invest and innovate,” said Marja Ruigrok, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer.
From dialogue to follow-up
The Business Lunch was explicitly designed as a starting point, not an endpoint. Building on the discussions, a follow-up will focus on strengthening the ecosystem further, with a specific emphasis on talent, skills and future jobs in the digital economy.
By continuing the dialogue between public and private partners, Amsterdam Airport City aims to translate shared ambitions into practical action, supporting companies, attracting international talent and reinforcing its position as one of the most digitally connected and future-oriented business locations in the Netherlands.
Participating organisations:
- Genpact
- Intralox
- L’Oréal Groupe
- Nutanix
- Proact IT
- World Wide Technology (WWT)
- Samsung Electronics
- Kyocera Document Solutions
- CyrusOne
- Digital Realty
- Amsterdam Economic Board
About the initiative
The Business Lunch series, organised by Amsterdam Airport City in collaboration with Amsterdam Trade & Invest, aims to accelerate key transitions that are vital for a future-proof region.
We believe it is essential to build ecosystems where partners facing similar challenges join forces to tackle them collaboratively.
Together, public and private actors are laying the foundations for cleaner, smarter and more resilient regional ecosystems, securing quality of life for generations to come.
This February, Amsterdam Airport City (Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, in cooperation with Amsterdam Trade & Invest and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) hosted the Airport City Innovation Network Lunch on Digitalisation.