MICS welcomes the first practical centre for humanoid robots in the Netherlands

With the opening of the Humanoid Application Center (HAC), MICS welcomes a new innovation partner to its campus. As the first practical training centre for humanoid robots in the Netherlands, HAC brings together companies to develop and apply humanoid robotics across a range of sectors, including construction, logistics, manufacturing and greenhouse horticulture.

From experimentation to real world application

The arrival of HAC aligns perfectly with MICS’s role as a place where businesses, educational institutions and technical talent collaborate on innovation in the manufacturing industry. On campus, new technologies are not only developed but also tested, applied and refined in a realistic working environment.

Within HAC, the first partners are already exploring practical applications. They are investigating how humanoid robots can support physically demanding tasks on construction sites and examining opportunities within greenhouse horticulture, such as harvesting peppers. In doing so, the centre demonstrates how humanoid robotics can help address labour market challenges while improving productivity.

Humanoid robotics attracts global attention

The opening immediately generated significant interest. HAC received extensive coverage from national news outlets (RTL, ANP and AD), business and technology platforms (BNR, Tweakers and Bright), as well as industry publications (Engineers Online, Link Magazine, Metaal Nieuws and others). Internationally, the centre also gained visibility across Europe and Asia, partly thanks to an in-depth interview and video report by global news agency AFP.

Approximately 250 guests attended the official opening. Alongside founders Richard Kuijpers, Evert Jaap Lugt and Bart van der Werf, representatives from industry and government took to the stage, including Jaap Hulshoff (Director of Technology & Innovation at Dura Vermeer), Janna Steinbusch (Director of GOM, part of Facilicom), Christel Mourik (Secretary-General and Director of the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region – MRDH), Alderman Kahramanoğlu (Education and SchieDistrict) from the Municipality of Schiedam and Niels Langenhuizen (Director of SDK Vastgoed and developer of MICS).

This broad representation highlights how humanoid robotics is rapidly emerging as a relevant and important topic for the Dutch and European manufacturing industries.

Building the next step together

For MICS, the arrival of HAC further strengthens the campus’s innovation ecosystem. The centre brings new expertise, applications, collaborations and internship opportunities to Schiedam and supports MICS’s ambition to become the leading hotspot for the high-tech manufacturing industry. It also creates opportunities for new companies, educational institutions and knowledge partners that wish to contribute to the development and implementation of humanoid robotics.

Continuing to follow developments

MICS closely monitors developments within HAC and regularly shares new practical examples, insights and collaborations through its own channels. In this way, the wider ecosystem remains connected to a technology that is evolving rapidly and moving ever closer to everyday practice.

More information about the Humanoid Application Center can be found on its website and LinkedIn page