Schreinemacher, outgoing VVD minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, spoke warm words about the new ITC accommodation. After visiting several presentations by staff and students on education and research of the faculty, she held a speech.
The speech was about Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), resources which are economically and strategically important for the European economy. ‘How can we make the biggest transition in human existence when raw materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt are difficult to mine and enormously scarce? And how do we work towards sustainable mining?’, the minister asked.
As part of a solution to those difficult matters, Schreinemacher pointed in the direction of the students and staff present. ‘We need you. Your knowledge and science. I love seeing so many nationalities together here and hope that when you graduate, you will stay connected to the Netherlands.’
The VVD politician inaugurated the building by cutting a cord hanging from a flying drone, to which the ‘key’ to the building was attached. After the departure of Schreinemacher, who will soon go on maternity leave, a ‘happy and grateful dean’ Freek van der Meer handed over the floor to former KNMI director and part-time ITC professor Gerard van der Steenhoven and alumna Dita Anggraeni. They gave a keynote speech, after which the celebrations ended with a food festival.
