MAIN · Maastricht AI & Tech Network · March 2026 – Present
The full story of MAIN.
What we set out to do in March 2026, what exists seven months later, what my part in it is, and what is still ahead.
Context
Why a student AI network, and why Maastricht.
In March 2026 three of us, Max, Jonathan and I, started the Maastricht AI & Tech Network because students can build far more than conventional expectations suggest, and Maastricht had the talent without a place to gather it.
We built that place as an organisation rather than a club: six teams, Operations, Tech, Marketing, External Relations, Summit Team and AI Projects, with real ownership. By autumn we were 26 people, with 1,100+ community members around the work.
Evidence
Community, Hong Kong, and the hackathon.
Hong Kong AI Summit · 3–9 October 2026
CompletedConnecting Maastricht and Hong Kong.
A week-long programme in Hong Kong co-organised with HKUST and Erasmus AI Society: an AI summit and hackathon connecting European and Hong Kong student talent with senior technology executives and investors. 600+ applications. 229 participants from 16 universities. Co-organised by MAIN, HKUST, Erasmus AI Society.
People and partners
Who this was built with.
- Max and JonathanCo-founders and fellow board members
- A team of 26 in six teamsOperations, Tech, Marketing, External Relations, Summit Team, AI Projects
- LovableBuildathon partner, spring 2026
- Omnium, ELSAPartner associations for panel evenings
- Anke den Ouden, Koen van den BiggelaarGuests at the June evening; former CEO and former General Manager, Microsoft Netherlands
- SpaceXAI / CursorMAIN hackathon, Maastricht, 21 September 2026
- HKUSTCo-organiser of the Hong Kong AI Summit
- Erasmus AI SocietyCo-organiser of the Hong Kong AI Summit
Ahead
MAIN AI Summit 2026
A two-day hackathon and industry summit in Maastricht. Target of around 400–500 participants. A plan, not a result.