Today Fokker Next Gen signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the parties Groningen Airport Eelde, Province of Drenthe, Province of Groningen, Province of Fryslân, Groningen Seaports, the Investment and Development Company (NV NOM), Alfa-College, Noorderpoort, the University of Groningen, the Hanze and FB Oranjewoud. The agreement is aimed at conducting research on the establishment of a hydrogen aircraft plant and Fokker Next Gen headquarters in the northern Netherlands.
The parties met at the airport to sign the agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding lays the foundation for a feasibility study for the establishment of the Fokker Next Gen headquarters in the Northern Netherlands and the final assembly line at Groningen Airport Eelde. At this location, Fokker Next Gen will carry out the assembly and testing of the new generation of hydrogen aircraft. This type of aircraft represents a cleaner way of flying.
The agreement also emphasizes the strengthening of the education, research, and innovation environment, and the establishment of a Center of Excellence in the Northern Netherlands for the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft, collaborating with education in the Northern Netherlands. An "Iron Bird" is being built for testing. This is a setup where the aircraft systems will be tested to ensure that they function properly together. This creates the conditions for the establishment of Fokker Next Gen and the development of emission-free aviation in the Northern Netherlands.
CEO of Fokker Next Gen, Juriaan Kellermann, is looking forward to the developments: "At Groningen Airport Eelde we will find space suitable for the construction of our assembly hall, it is an excellent location for our production facility. Important advantages are the direct sea connection via Groningen Seaports to the Fokker Next Gen facility in Latvia, where a production site will be located, and the expected proximity to hydrogen production facilities in the future. We are pleased with the support from the region regarding government and education, and excited about the opportunities to work together with all the parties who signed this agreement to develop a stable ecosystem for aviation in the Netherlands. This initiative aims to support the establishment of a final assembly line in the Northern Netherlands, which will run parallel to the line in Latvia, significantly increasing our ability to produce innovative hydrogen aircraft."
The expected benefits of this project for the northern Netherlands include economic growth and employment, advances in the education and science sectors, improvements in aviation infrastructure and hydrogen production, and long-term sustainable development and innovation.