Ignaas Caryn is director of innovation and venturing at Netherlands-based airline KLM and its representative at Mainport Innovation Fund, which is a partnership involving the Dutch airline, Delft University of Technology, Schiphol and Rabobank. He helped set up the multi-corporate venturing fund four years ago.
Caryn said: “Next year our fund will be fully invested. We are quite satisfied with where we are today although our real success needs to come with exits.” He said promising portfolio companies on this growth path included Netherlands-based simulator company Multi-Pilot Simulations and Netherlands-based radar company Robin Radar.
Caryn has worked in business innovation and venturing since 2007, while from 2003 to 2007 he was head of customer relationship management development. Before that he was a business manager at KLM. He studied business economics at University of Ghent.
What is the future of your sector?
Caryn said: “The aviation sector is expected to double in size by 2030. However, this growth can only be realised if the carbon footprint is reduced drastically, energy independence is secured and safety is guaranteed. Our sector is increasingly influenced by other industries ,such as IT, telecommunications and even the chemical and bioenergy industries. Finding excellent ways for collaboration with these industries will be crucial to sustained success.”
