The king and queen of the Netherlands made a special trip to Albany on Wednesday to announce a new nanotechnology partnership with New York state.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Gov. Kathy Hochul were at the nanotech complex in Albany with industry leaders, to make the partnership official.

“We don’t have to say it but we know it. New York became what it is because of the Dutch. Their willingness to explore the world. To go into the unknown. It is that risk-taking gene that has been passed on to all the people who claim Dutch heritage today,” Hochul said.

State leaders are hoping to make already strong ties with the Dutch a step further. With the new partnership, industry leaders will be able to share best practices and ideas to create a chip that prioritizes sustainability.

The Dutch Royals got a tour of the nanotech complex, which is one of America’s primary tech centers. The king and queen got to see the cleanroom, where the chips are made in a sterile environment.

Willem-Alexander said coming to Albany feels a bit like coming home.

“The can-do mentality here at NY creates reminds us strongly of the Netherlands. It’s fascinating to see how here in Albany, you have developed a fertile ecosystem for ground-breaking innovation.”

A research agreement between the Netherlands and New York state was signed during a ceremony press was allowed to attend. This will allow New York and Holland to work together to design a chip that’s innovative and sustainable.

“Putting together the brightest people. The best facilities and the boldest ideas. In the Netherlands, you can see the same dynamic spirit,” Willem-Alexander said.