The cornerstone of the 130-year celebration is the Van der Grinten Symposium which is being held at the Maaspoort Theater in Venlo, the Netherlands at 2 pm on 29 October 2007. The symposium focuses on the importance of innovation in technology, the economy and society. It is named after the Océ founding family who started the company in 1877 in Venlo.

 

This year’s symposium will feature prominent speakers, including the Secrety-General of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Chris Buijink, and the CEO of British Telecom, Ben Verwaayen, and CEO of Océ, Rokus van Iperen. Representatives of social, political and scientific organizations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries will also be attending this event.