On November 18, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and its Blue Magic Netherlands (BMNL) partners held their second "shark tank" style event in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The event brought together emerging Dutch companies and attracted more than 350 attendees. BMNL provided Dutch businesses with an opportunity to present their capabilities for possible investment from GA-ASI, as well as other companies. The 16 companies that made pitches were selected from a pool of more than 70 companies that represented the best of the best of Dutch industry.

"Blue Magic uncovers new technologies within the Dutch ecosystem," said Brad Lunn, GA-ASI Managing Director. "The quality of the innovation we're seeing is improving rapidly. The growth of the event is a testament to the quality it brings forward."

During the second BMNL event, held at Brainport Eindhoven — a center of the Dutch high-technology industry — GA-ASI and its partners heard firsthand from Dutch companies about the important capabilities they are developing. GA-ASI issued an open invitation to Dutch businesses in July for Netherlands-based businesses to apply for the opportunity to present their innovative technologies at BMNL. Key areas of focus for the presentations were Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Autonomy, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Sensors, Space, and Counter-UAS.

GA-ASI was joined for the second BMNL event by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, Lockheed Martin, Brainport Development, Brabant Development Agency (BOM), and the Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security (NIDV).

GA-ASI expects to announce technology partnerships stemming from the second BMNL event and intends to continue holding this event on an annual basis in the Netherlands.