Largest infrastructure platform kicks off again

'Space for development' new theme InfraTech 2025

The 16th edition of trade fair InfraTech, held from January 14 to 17, 2025 in Rotterdam Ahoy, once again promises to be a crucial platform for innovation, sustainability and future-proof solutions within the infrastructure sector. This year, InfraTech introduces the theme 'Space for Development' with a focus on sustainable growth and innovation through collaboration and creative solutions.

"The importance of InfraTech seems obvious to me," said Michèle Blom, director general of InfraTech host Rijkswaterstaat during the 2023 edition. "All major tasks for our society are reflected in this sector." 

And it will be no different in 2025. Not for nothing did not only Rijkswaterstaat, but also the City of Rotterdam recently signed a new cooperation agreement with InfraTech in which they once again committed themselves as hosts of the largest infrastructure platform in the Benelux. With an eye to the future, InfraTech is working with its hosts on sustainable cooperation between client and contractor, the innovative capacity of the sector and tackling together the enormous challenges we face in the Netherlands in the years ahead. 

InfraTech's Exhibition Manager Annemieke den Otter announces that "this cooperation means a lot to InfraTech. Together with our hosts and other partners, we offer visitors to InfraTech a complete, inspiring and substantive picture of what is going on within our industry. Focus points such as the replacement and renovation task, the personnel challenge in the market and climate and sustainability goals will be meticulously addressed."

Bob Demoet, chief engineer director of Rijkswaterstaat, also expressed his delight at the partnership: "I am proud that we have strengthened our cooperation with InfraTech. 

Together with our colleagues and partners in the infrastructure sector, we are working on a healthy and professional interaction with the market. Our joint success is measured by the impact we realize every day. During InfraTech we can discuss the enormous challenges that the Netherlands will face in the coming years, from replacement and renovation tasks to climate adaptation and energy transition. InfraTech offers the space to tackle these challenges together."

Different themes

InfraTech 2025 is divided into three main themes: Water & Climate, Infra and Public Space & Mobility. Each theme represents a specific segment within the sector and highlights topics such as the impact of digitization and automation, the demand for resilient infrastructure and the importance of underground infrastructure.

With the presence of professionals from various disciplines, InfraTech 2025 offers a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Participants can gain new insights, build relationships and enter into collaborations that transcend industry boundaries. InfraTech 2025 is thus more than a trade fair; it is a catalyst for progress in the infrastructure sector.

Tree Square

A key theme of InfraTech 2025 is sustainability, an increasingly prominent concern in an era when climate change can no longer be ignored. Infrastructure professionals are actively looking for ways to make their projects more environmentally friendly, from designing and building roads and bridges to managing waterways and reducing waste.

One of this year's most notable new initiatives is the Tree Square, a hub for discussion about the importance of trees in public spaces and their crucial role in infrastructure. This initiative, initiated by the Standard Institute on Trees together with several partners, emphasizes the need for cooperation between the civil and green sectors.

In addition, the Start-up and Scale-up Square will be introduced, located around the Knowledge Theater in Hall 2. That square will provide a platform for start-ups and scale-ups to showcase their innovative technologies, focusing on themes such as climate adaptation, smart mobility and circular economy. It promises to be a breeding ground for groundbreaking ideas.

Tomorrow's infrastructure

In short, InfraTech 2025 in Rotterdam Ahoy for the 16th time promises to be an unmissable event for the entire infrastructure sector. The new theme 'Space for Development' puts a strong focus on innovation and sustainability where four days of extra attention will be drawn to greener and more sustainable solutions for our aging infranet network. The replacement and renovation task of Rijkswaterstaat as well as provinces and municipalities will be given a prominent role. Through a wide range of themes and the introduction of an extensive knowledge program, InfraTech offers a platform where professionals from various disciplines can come together to learn, network and explore future collaborations. InfraTech 2025 will thus become the place where tomorrow's infrastructure is being shaped today. 

Comprehensive knowledge program 

The comprehensive knowledge program is divided into six themes, including Human Capital, Climate & Sustainability, Replacement & Renovation, Mobility & Logistics, Digitization and Underground Infrastructure. These themes highlight the challenges and opportunities within the sector, from finding qualified personnel to transformation through digitalization.

1. Human Capital: Next to sustainability and circularity, human capital is perhaps the biggest challenge for the coming years. Finding qualified personnel in times of labor shortages is an urgent task. InfraTech has acted as a magnet for young talent for years and will continue to serve as a bridge between education and employers in 2025. The various plazas will welcome talented infrastructure professionals with open arms. In addition, it is important that the skills of current employees continue to match new processes and digitalization. Retaining talent in the infra industry is essential for the growth of the sector.  
   
   
2. Climate & Sustainability: The infrastructure sector faces the challenge of becoming more sustainable and embracing circular, climate- and energy-neutral solutions. One component is to promote climate-neutral infrastructure projects, focusing on minimizing the carbon footprint throughout a project's life cycle.
   
   
3. Replacement & Renovation: The theme Replacement and Renovation is an important part at InfraTech. Dutch engineering works will be thoroughly tackled in the coming years, with a focus on smart organization, standardization and circular construction.
   
   
4. Mobility & Logistics: Mobility and Logistics include electric construction transportation, construction hubs around cities, Mobility as a Service (MAAS) and rewards for construction logistics in the procurement phase.
   
   
5. Digitization: The Digital Infrastructure theme goes beyond just cables and pipes; our roads and modes of transport are becoming smarter and more adaptive. InfraTech offers insight into how digitization is transforming infrastructure.
   
   
6. Underground Infra: The importance of underground infrastructure is highlighted, focusing on innovative solutions and technologies for the management and use of underground networks.

Incredible enthusiasm for the exhibition floor 

With more than 20,000 visitors, over 500 exhibitors and more than 200 knowledge sessions, InfraTech is the most important meeting place for professionals from the infrastructure sector every two years. The event complex in the city of Meuse is then populated not only by contractors and engineers, but also by decision-makers and administrators from Rijkswaterstaat, all 12 provinces, the water boards and a great many municipalities. Although by far the majority of stand space has already been taken, the staff at Rotterdam Ahoy are happy to help think of opportunities to still be present. www.infratech.nl. Stay tuned: https://www.infratech.nl/over-infratech/nieuws/nieuwsbrief