Speaker · Author · Innovation Leader
Mike
Vermeer
On collaborative innovation, partnerships and the ecosystems that create unseen new value.
On collaborative innovation, partnerships and the ecosystems that create unseen new value.
"In an era defined by rapid technological change, the power of collaboration has never been more decisive. No single organisation can thrive in isolation — let alone succeed in innovation on a structural basis."
Mike Vermeer is a strategist, business leader and author with over two decades of experience building innovation partnerships across European food, biobased, foodtech, biotech and biochemical sectors. His work spans startups to multinationals — from organisations founded in the past few years to global powerhouses with histories stretching back over a century.
He is the author of InnovateSmart/Partnerships (Novactum, 2025) — a 272-page management book grounded in 25 European case studies and 150 scientific papers. The book is the foundation of his speaking work: practical, evidence-based and built from real mandates rather than theory.
As a speaker, Mike brings together strategy, people and execution. His sessions are known for intellectual rigour, practical relevance and the ability to make complex ideas land clearly with senior executive audiences. He has spoken at ServiceNow, World Markets The Hague, Brainport Eindhoven and a range of European innovation events.
He holds a Master of Marketing and an MBA from top Dutch universities, and is based in the Netherlands, active across Europe.
The strategy is rarely the problem. The bottleneck is knowing what to execute, when and how — technically, commercially and through the right partnerships. This session diagnoses the execution gap and shows how organisations close it.
The organisations that win do not build alone. They build ecosystems — networks of partners, suppliers and institutions that co-create what no single organisation could produce alone. This session draws on ASML, Cosun, Lamb Weston and the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme.
AI changes what is possible — but only for those who know how to execute. This session explores how AI transforms partner collaboration across six domains: generative AI, predictive analytics, NLP, machine learning, RPA and agentic AI. Based on Chapter 17 of InnovateSmart/Partnerships.
The most effective innovation teams prioritise external exploration over internal harmony. This session introduces the X-Team model — why it works, how to implement it and what it means for team composition, leadership and culture.
Novactum works on a success-driven basis — engaged alongside partners, sharing in the outcome. This session explores what it means to structure partnerships with genuine commitment on both sides — and why investors respond to it.
At the intersection of matching demand, technology and people is where innovation actually happens. This session draws on Mike's two decades of cross-sector experience — from food and biobased to tech and scale-ups — to map the leadership discipline that makes transformation stick.
"Mike and I have crossed paths in various roles and settings over the years, and every time I'm impressed by his ability to connect and inspire those around him. His leadership is both driven and empowering, bringing people together and fostering collaboration. Working with Mike is always a rewarding experience that adds real value."Bert-Jan Woertman · Managing Director StartLife & Co-developer High Tech Campus Eindhoven
"Mike and I met back in 2006 during his Master of Marketing program at TIAS. In terms of Jim Collins' 'Good to Great', he is a Level 5 leader — connecting in an inclusive way whilst remaining curious to keep learning from others."Prof. dr. Rudy Moenaert · Author of 'The Customer Leader' · Professor TIAS School for Business
"Mike demonstrated exceptional qualities as an inspirational leader with a clear vision for his company. His leadership style is characterized by openness to new ideas, a keen ability to evaluate opportunities, and a strong ambition for continuous learning."Dr. Maria Carmela Annosi · Associate Professor of Innovation and Organisation Theory · Wageningen University
"Mike is a great innovator, with high expertise in the methodologies of innovation management, who also knows very well how to stimulate colleagues to apply these."Prof. dr. Jan van den Ende · Professor of Innovation Management · Rotterdam School of Management
The foundation of Mike's speaking work — 272 pages, 25 European cases, 150 scientific papers. A practical management book on collaborative innovation, partnerships and ecosystems. Published by Novactum, 2025.
Order the book →For keynotes, panel discussions, masterclasses and executive roundtables on collaborative innovation, partnerships and ecosystems. Available in English and Dutch.