China Café South; Behind the headlines of the Nexperia Case: China, Chips & Choices
On 15 December, the VNC will host a special China Café in Eindhoven, diving into the recent developments surrounding Nexperia—a case that vividly illustrates the intersection of geopolitics, technology, and corporate strategy. In an in-depth interview, Charles Smit (former General Counsel and Head of Corporate Affairs at Nexperia) and René Raaijmakers (journalist and founder of Bits&Chips) will share their unique insider perspectives on what unfolded, the forces at play, and the implications for the Dutch high-tech ecosystem. This is a rare opportunity to look beyond the headlines and gain real insight into an issue shaping the future of Europe’s tech landscape.
After the interview we have ample opportunity for networking over drinks and snacks, offered by VNC free of charge. Join us!
Programm:
17.00 – 17.30 walkin and networking
17.30 – 18.30 interview
18.30 – 19.00 networking
About the speakers:
Charles Smit
Charles Smit is an experienced legal and corporate affairs leader with deep roots in the semiconductor industry. He served as General Counsel and later Head of Corporate Affairs at Nexperia, guiding the company through strategic transitions in a complex geopolitical environment.
Before Nexperia, Smit held senior legal roles at NXP, Philips, and Akzo Nobel. Since leaving Nexperia in 2024, he has been an Associate Partner at Hague Corporate Affairs and FGS Global, advising high-tech companies on strategic positioning in The Hague and Brussels.
He also serves as Chairman of the Dutch semiconductor cluster, Business Cluster Semiconductors NL.
René Raaijmakers
René Raaijmakers (Oirschot, The Netherlands, 1960) started working as a science journalist immediately after completing his studies in chemistry. In the 1990s, he wrote as a freelance contributor for NRC Handelsblad, Intermediair, Automatisering Gids and Computable, among others, about the ICT and semiconductor industry.
In 1999, he founded Techwatch and launched Bits&Chips, a trade and opinion magazine for the high-tech industry. Raaijmakers founded The High Tech Institute in 2011. He has written books about Philips Natlab and ASML and still contributes articles to Bits&Chips and High Tech Systems magazine. He also produces the Bits&Chips podcast and YouTube channel.
Sorry, we are sold out! Please write an email to info@vnc-china.nl if you want us to put you on the waiting list.
