Avy Signs LOI Within ODIN at PurpleNectar

On Thursday, Avy reached an important milestone in its ongoing commitment to defense innovation in the Netherlands. During PurpleNectar, our colleague Niels Blij, in his role as Chairman of the Defense Innovation Companies Group North Holland, formally signed the Letter of Intent (LOI) within the ODIN program. The signing took place in the presence of our CEO, Benjamin van der Hilst, and the Secretary of State for Defense, Gijs Tuinman, underscoring both the strategic importance of the initiative and the strong alignment between industry and government.

This moment marks the culmination of extensive preparation and collaboration. Over the past period, numerous partners from industry, government, and knowledge institutions have worked diligently toward a shared goal: accelerating innovation in defense through stronger cooperation, clearer direction, and a more connected ecosystem. The signing of the LOI is not an endpoint, but rather a starting signal for the next phase of concrete action.

A Proud Role for Avy

Avy is proud to be one of the four leading companies in the ODIN steering group. Taking on this prominent role reflects both our technological capabilities and our long-term vision for responsible, impactful innovation. As a company operating at the intersection of advanced technology, autonomy, and safety, we see it as our responsibility to actively contribute to solutions that strengthen security while also delivering civilian value.

Participation in the ODIN steering group allows Avy to help shape priorities, connect partners, and ensure that innovation efforts translate into deployable, scalable solutions. It also reinforces our belief that complex societal challenges, such as national security and strategic autonomy, cannot be solved by individual organizations alone. They require orchestration.

What Is ODIN?

ODIN (Orchestrating Defence Innovation) is a national initiative designed to accelerate innovation across the defense sector. Rather than focusing on isolated projects, ODIN aims to create a coordinated approach in which companies, startups, research institutes, and government bodies work together within a shared framework.

As an orchestrator, ODIN focuses on building and strengthening an ecosystem for dual-use technologies, innovations that have both military and civilian applications. These technologies are crucial in today’s rapidly changing geopolitical and technological landscape. They enable faster adoption, reduce development costs, and ensure that innovations can scale beyond a single domain.

Through ODIN, the Netherlands is investing not only in technological advancement, but also in strategic independence, resilience, and economic growth.

Dual-Use Innovation as a strategic pillar

Dual-use innovation sits at the heart of the ODIN program. By encouraging technologies that serve both defense and civilian markets, ODIN helps bridge the traditional gap between these domains. This approach accelerates development cycles, attracts a broader range of innovators, and ensures that public investments generate wider societal returns.

Looking Ahead

The signing of the LOI during PurpleNectar represents a shared commitment to move forward together. In the coming period, ODIN will translate its ambitions into concrete programs, pilots, and collaborations. Avy looks forward to actively contributing to these efforts, sharing expertise, and working alongside partners across the ecosystem.

We believe that by combining entrepreneurial innovation with governmental vision and academic knowledge, the Netherlands can position itself at the forefront of defense innovation in Europe. More importantly, it can do so in a way that makes our society safer, more independent, and economically stronger.

This milestone is a moment of pride but also a call to action. Together with our partners in ODIN, Avy is ready to take the next steps.