Expert Interview Series on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Economic Development

Utrecht University’s MSc course Entrepreneurial Ecosystems & Economic Development (USEMEEED) will host a series of expert interview sessions this spring, bringing together leading voices from policy, research, and practice. The series is organised by course instructors Maria Greve, Erik Stam, Anne‑Sophie Halbertsma (Centre for Entrepreneurship), and will take place at Playground on Utrecht University’s campus.

The IOS community as well as any interested student or researcher are warmly invited to attend these moderated, student‑led conversations, each followed by an open Q&A. The sessions aim to deepen understanding of how entrepreneurial ecosystems function, how innovation policy is shaped, and how value creation unfolds across regions and sectors.

There is no formal registration page; attendees may register by email (at m.greve@uu.nl) or simply join on the day.

Programme Overview

1. Tue 24 Feb 2026, 11:00–13:00 — Milou Derks (Orange Corners & Utrecht University)
   Entrepreneurial ecosystems & value creation in low‑ and middle‑income countries
2. Tue 10 Mar 2026, 09:00–11:00 — Jan Jacob Vogelaar (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
   The Wennink report and the future of Dutch competitiveness
3. Tue 10 Mar 2026, 11:00–13:00 — Mirella Schrijvers (TNO Vector)
   High‑performing entrepreneurial ecosystems & high‑value entrepreneurship
4. Tue 17 Mar 2026, 09:00–11:00 — Marcel Kleijn (Innovation Quarter / ROM‑Nederland)
   Regional entrepreneurship & innovation policy: ROMs in new industrial policy
5. Tue 17 Mar 2026, 11:00–13:00 — Pim den Hertog (Dialogic)
   Knowledge valorisation in the Netherlands & evaluating innovation policy

Speaker profiles

• Milou Derks (Orange Corners & Utrecht University)
  Milou Derks is Head of Research at Orange Corners and is affiliated with Utrecht University. Her work focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystems and value creation dynamics in low‑ and middle‑income contexts, bridging programme practice with research and evaluation.
• Jan Jacob Vogelaar (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
  Jan Jacob Vogelaar is a senior policy officer at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (innovation policy directorate). He also completed a PhD at Utrecht University on entrepreneurship policy and the role of the state (including public venture capital), and brings experience at the intersection of policy strategy and implementation.
• Mirella Schrijvers (TNO Vector)
  Mirella Schrijvers is a researcher in entrepreneurship and innovation at TNO Vector. She specialises in entrepreneurial ecosystem monitoring and mapping, and works on how entrepreneurship and innovation contribute to competitiveness and societal challenges.
• Marcel Kleijn (ROM‑Nederland / Innovation Quarter)
  Marcel Kleijn is the General Secretary (Algemeen secretaris) of ROM‑Nederland, the national network of Dutch Regional Development Agencies (ROMs). He works on regional entrepreneurship and innovation policy, value chains, and the role of ROMs in new industrial policy and cross‑regional collaboration.
• Pim den Hertog (Dialogic)
  Pim den Hertog is a partner and senior researcher/advisor at Dialogic, specialising in monitoring and evaluation of science, entrepreneurship and innovation policy and governance. He holds a PhD and brings extensive experience evaluating policy instruments and knowledge valorisation programmes in the Netherlands and internationally.