Prime Minister Mark Rutte Visits DJI: A Celebration of Innovation
Key Takeaways:
- Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, visits DJI’s Shenzhen headquarters in March 2015.
- Rutte and DJI founder Frank Wang discuss the vital role of innovation in the tech industry.
- Rutte expresses admiration for DJI’s explosive growth and impressive product offerings.
- Potential future collaborations between the Netherlands and DJI aim to foster innovation and inspire young talent.
In a significant diplomatic move, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made headlines in March 2015 during his state visit to China by taking the time to visit the headquarters of DJI, the global leader in drone technology, based in Shenzhen. This visit underscores the importance of fostering innovation and collaboration between countries and companies.
On the afternoon of March 27, Rutte’s motorcade arrived at DJI, where he was warmly welcomed by the company’s founder and CEO, Frank Wang. Their engaging discussions centered around the pivotal theme of “innovation” and how it drives progress in technology and business.
Frank Wang highlighted that DJI’s success in becoming a top player in the small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry stems from its commitment to nurturing every visionary idea and pioneering advancements in technology. He emphasized that DJI will continue to deliver high-quality products while expanding their applications across various industries. Additionally, he noted the company’s dedication to supporting its research and development teams and promoting innovation through student competitions aimed at inspiring the next generation of creative engineers.
Mr. Rutte was notably impressed by Wang’s entrepreneurial journey and conveyed his sincere congratulations on the outstanding accomplishments of the DJI team. He explored the potential for cooperation between the Netherlands and DJI, expressing a desire to organize international events focused on spurring innovation. Furthermore, he extended an invitation for Wang to speak at Dutch universities to inspire young talents.
During the discussions, Rutte remarked on the pervasive nature of dreams among individuals, stressing that few are willing to invest their lives in bringing those dreams to fruition. He expressed confidence that Wang’s experience and storytelling could galvanize many around the world to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship in a manner similar to DJI.
The Prime Minister’s visit also included hands-on experiences with DJI products. Rutte explored DJI’s product lineup, demonstrating interest in the company’s offerings. He tried the DJI Ronin 3-axis camera stabilization gimbal and experienced the Inspire 1, celebrated as the world’s first comprehensive flight system featuring a 4K camera.
Although it’s rare for a head of state to visit a private enterprise, this meeting was a testament to DJI’s remarkable achievements over the years. Notably, the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ was recognized by Time magazine as one of the “Top 10 Gadgets” of 2014, while the Inspire 1 garnered accolades from prominent media outlets and customers globally as one of the finest drones in the market.
DJI’s trajectory of consecutive triple-digit growth pinpoints its status as one of the fastest-growing companies within the high-tech industry. In late 2014, Fast Company named DJI among the top three in its list of the “World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Consumer Electronics,” placing it alongside tech giants like Google and Tesla.
To learn more about DJI’s groundbreaking products, visit the Inspire 1 and the DJI Ronin pages.
