“The innovative character of our region is supported by the facts. Businesses based in Brainport Eindhoven are awarded four patents per day; this is more than half (55%) of the total number of patents registered throughout the country. Nowhere else in the Netherlands you will see as much private investment in R&D as in this region. The export figures for businesses in the province of Noord-Brabant exceed 57 billion Euros. This is 23% of the total Dutch export figure and way above the figure for the Rotterdam region with its Seaport, and the Amsterdam region with Mainport Schiphol.

I would also like to dispense with a common misunderstanding. There is a widely-held view that Eindhoven is all about Philips, or the other major companies operating from Eindhoven such as ASML (world’s leading provider of lithography systems for the semiconductor industry), DAF Trucks (a top 3 truck producer in Europe) or NXP (a global semiconductor company with operations in more than 25 countries). Although each company generates an annual turnover of more than 4 billion Euros, there is more. Brainport Eindhoven Region is the basis for numerous successful, smaller and less well-known businesses. The eco-system has a deep and far-reaching basis in electronics, IT, materials, manufacturing and intelligent and creative design. Furthermore: the number of start-up companies is rising rapidly, which gives a good indication of the solidity of the Brainport economy.

“The Brainport Eindhoven Region, with high tech Eindhoven at its hub, forms part of the technological backbone of Europe. In fact the entire region, plays a major role in generating the innovative and economic power of the Netherlands as a whole.”
Speaking is Rob van Gijzel, Mayor of the city of Eindhoven and chairman of the Brainport Foundation.

Whatever else, innovation is the driving force behind the industry in this region. Industry in the Eindhoven region earns 28% of its turnover from innovation. This means that 28% of the total turnover of these companies is actually generated from new products. Products that did not even exist three years previously. The figure for the whole of Dutch industry is just 9%.

Collaboration between businesses, universities and other knowledge institutes is crucial to innovation. When it comes to collaboration with industry, Eindhoven University of Technology is no. 1 in the world, even beating the major Japanese universities. This position is proof of the unique, close R&D collaboration between knowledge institutes and high-tech industry.

New solutions connecting technology, leadership and new business thinking can unleash entirely new approaches to improving the lives of our citizens even at times of economic crisis. Brainport Eindhoven Region shows how local challenges can be turned into global opportunities for new technologies, entrepreneurs and creative solutions.

Brainport Eindhoven Region gives full support to start-up businesses and encourages growth among existing companies. Specific programmes and accommodation opportunities are in place for starters and newcomers. A number of research institutes from other parts of the Netherlands, such as FOM and ECN, are choosing to relocate their operations to Eindhoven. They recognize the added value of this concentration of activities and are keen to be part of the international success of Brainport.

No wonder Brainport was awarded the title ‘Intelligent Community of the year 2011’ by  the Intelligent Community Forum. Recently Dutch diplomats from more than 120 countries came to experience the open innovation atmosphere and economic capacity of the Brainport region.

Rob van Gijzel
Mayor of Eindhoven and chairman of the Brainport Foundation