MWC – the world’s largest mobile technology and telecommunications event – will be held from Monday 3 to Thursday 6 March in the state-of-the-art Gran Via conference venue, just outside Barcelona’s city centre.
Last year’s edition attracted over 101,000 visitors and featured over 2,700 exhibitors from 205 different countries. The Dutch delegation comprised over 200 representatives, including Micky Adriaansens (former Minister of Economic Affairs) and his Royal Highness Prince Constantijn of Orange-Nassau.
Minister Beljaarts to open pavilion
MWC has always been a major business and networking event for a significant number of Dutch businesses and professionals, being the place to present and experience the latest highlights in mobile technology products and services. True to tradition, this year’s delegation has over 200 members.
The Dutch pavilion – ‘NL Pavilion’ – will be opened by Dirk Beljaarts, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Frits Grotenhuis, director of Topsector ICT. The ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Spain, Roel Nieuwenkamp, will also attend the opening.
Topsector ICT is contributing to the Dutch pavilion for the fourth year running, having designated MWC as a strategic trade event. At the same time, Barcelona will be hosting the 4YFN (4 Years From Now) event for start-ups and scale-ups, organised by Innovation Quarter. Topsector ICT is providing financial support for the event’s Dutch pavilion, which will host 16 innovative start-ups.
Kick-off in The Hague
Thursday 6 February saw a kick-off meeting of the MWC at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Speakers included Topsector ICT director Frits Grotenhuis, who discussed the National Technology Strategy alongside the two action agendas led by KIA Digitalisation (the knowledge and innovation agenda set up and overseen by Topsector ICT): AI/Data and Cybersecurity Technologies.
Other speakers included Paul Wijngaard, who leads Future Network Services (FNS) as one of Topsector ICT’s coalitions, and Jos de Groot (director of Digital Economy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs), who touched on the Netherlands’ innovation policy.
Converge. Connect. Create
The theme of this year’s MWC is Converge. Connect. Create. The event will focus on six thought leadership themes:
- 5G Inside
- Connect X (empowering more effective collaboration)
- AI+
- Enterprise Reinvented (focusing on AI, 5G, Edge, Cloud, quantum and blockchain)
- Game Changers
- Our Digital DNA
View the programme of the Dutch delegation and find all the information you need to know on MCW2025’s home page.