Interview with Stef Prinsen
The TNO Fast Track team consists — unsurprisingly — of driven and ambitious individuals. In this feature, we shine a light on our team. This edition highlights Stef. Stef was one of the first members of TNO Fast Track and has since become a cornerstone of the team.
Tell us, who is Stef…
Stef is 36 years old and lives in Amersfoort with his partner and two children. He’s one of the few non-technologists at TNO, with a broad range of interests and a strong drive to make a difference for clients.
In May 2023, Stef became the fourth employee of the TNO Fast Track team, which has since grown to over ten people. In his first two years, he initiated 70 client projects on topics ranging from circular materials and medical technology to cybersecurity.
Stef is no stranger to the Dutch startup ecosystem. In addition to his work with clients, he’s also responsible for partnerships with investors, venture builders, and accelerators.
What people might not know…
My grandfather worked as a researcher for TNO in Soesterberg between 1970 and 2005. He used to tell me the most fascinating stories about the projects he worked on, often resulting in a private lecture.
In my free time, I enjoy going to Feyenoord matches. It’s a club close to my heart — action over words. That motto fits perfectly with my daily work, where we aim to help clients quickly and with a hands-on approach.
A highlight this year was the CTO Unconference, which we organized at Upstream and Enschede Slush'D. We brought together dozens of deeptech CTOs who shared complex challenges to work on collaboratively. Helping them move forward is what drives me.
Why do you do what you do?
In my previous role at InnovationQuarter, I already saw TNO as a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise, filled with exceptional people and facilities. Despite this potential, I also noticed that it wasn’t always easy for entrepreneurs to access the right TNO experts and tap into that value.
TNO sometimes had the reputation of being a hard-to-penetrate stronghold, and from the outside, it wasn’t always easy to get collaborations off the ground.
When I joined, TNO Fast Track was still in its infancy, but from the start we’ve been working to improve this for entrepreneurs — always aiming for a win-win.
What do you want to tackle?
My vision is that TNO should be the innovation partner for the Dutch business community. We should be able to achieve that by 2030.
I’d love it if, by then, all of TNO operated in a way similar to TNO Fast Track — demand-driven, fast-paced, and client-focused.
What keeps you up at night?
In principle, I sleep well. The honest truth, however, is that one of my two young children (aged 1 and 3) sometimes wakes up at night. So I often have to get up.
Professionally, I mostly find it frustrating that TNO has so much knowledge and expertise, yet it’s not always known that we can help companies move forward. I often think: “Just get in touch — we’ll help you make progress.”
Who would you like to pass the baton to?
The most experienced colleague in our team is Aart-Willem. With his extensive experience and impressive track record at TNO, he’s a key pillar of our team. He knows how things work, knows almost everyone, and has rightly earned the nickname “the oracle of Delft.”
Wil jij met dit team samenwerken?
Het TNO Fast Track team werkt graag snel, vraaggestuurd en doelgericht aan het versnellen van jouw technologische innovatie vraag. Neem contact op om jouw vraagstuk te bespreken en we komen gelijk in actie.