Tweet28-02-2010 om 21:42 by Maastricht Region Branding Foundation

2009 was dominated by the economic crisis. A large number of projects on the Campus were completed, such as the new building for SABIC R&D, a large-scale renovation for DSM Resolve and the new Gate 2, but other plans were put on hold, such as the new accommodation for DSM Engineering Plastics. The ambition remained, however. Many R&D projects have been continued and the expansion of the Campus with new players is going well. New companies that contribute toward open innovation and growth are establishing themselves here, and now there is another glimmer of hope on the horizon. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is focusing upon six “Campuses of National Importance” and is investing in them. On the basis of a study carried out by Buck Consultants International, it has been determined that it makes sense to promote ‘the’ campus and that the Netherlands will become stronger as a result. The Chemelot Campus is being recognized for its National Strategic Importance. More specifically, this means that investments are being made here in accelerating a number of promising innovation projects and companies; in a conference room in order to promote knowledge exchange, in laboratories and in establishment opportunities for parties that are able to envisage the possibilities available here. For another one of the conclusions is that companies perform better in a campus environment such as this, with sales increasing... You could say this is a positive development, but it is important to be realistic. We are still a long way off achieving this…


The Netherlands is behind the times. As far as innovation and modernization are concerned, other countries around us are performing better and we have some catching up to do. Buck Consultants International reports that as far as accelerating innovation on campuses is concerned, we in the Netherlands actually still only have a few satisfactory campuses, and this means that we are behind the competition. Luckily, the Chemelot Campus is an exception here.


Work Harder
The challenges are piling up. ‘Work harder’, you hear from both sides, and ‘work smarter’. Set your mind to it and enjoy striving for progress. The motto is ‘change’. You often hear that from within the ‘science conversations’ that take place at the lunch table in the Campus restaurant. It is that very building that will increasingly be required to adopt the role of a network plaza, where networking is combined with chatting and knowledge is acquired and contributed. The network plaza will accommodate more people, more formal and informal meetings and more exchanging of knowledge. A greater amount of innovation will take place, but a greater number of parties and a greater number of companies will also be present. One of the reasons why innovation is stalling is due to the fact that much advanced equipment is not available to SMEs, for example, whilst growth is expected from them too. The Chemelot Campus is able to provide solutions in this regard, too, by making available the knowledge and the laboratories, for example. That is what is known as open innovation. Furthermore, this subsidy is meant to lower the threshold for companies establishing themselves on the Campus, so that the exchange of knowledge is not limited to incidental contacts. This means that neighbors to the Campus are able to learn more quickly. Projects are underway both on the Chemelot Campus and the Industrial Park that will provide ample scope for collaboration of this type.

Chemelot’s Terrific Position
“This is a great boost,” explains Ger Wagemans, Director of Chemelot, when asked, following the publication of this report by Buck Consultants International. “This recognition provides confidence in the future. The Campus and the Industrial Park have already demonstrated more excellent report figures. Over the last few years, memoranda and recommendations have been published regularly by various objective parties, such as Bak Basel Economics, Boston Consulting Group, NDC International Limited, Booz & Company and a previous study by Buck Consultants International. Each of these reports states that Chemelot occupies an important position with regard to chemicals as a driving force for economic growth and that Chemelot is ‘the place to be’. In actual fact, I believe that the best thing for us to do is say this out loud more often. We need to show a bit more self-confidence, despite the fact that this doesn’t come naturally to us, and we need to be allowed to develop it further. Not arrogantly or blindly, faced with the enormous challenges and tasks that lie ahead, but sensibly, rationally and realistically, with arguments substantiated and an understanding of what’s going on. We need to sell ourselves. Not like before, with attractive women on hoods of cars... Nowadays, people are convinced by actions, by clear added value, and I believe that we have achieved that. I believe that, with all of its parties and business contacts, Chemelot can turn things around. Watch this space.”

Read More
Hard work is being done. Chemelot, with support from the government, is investing in the regional business community in order to promote open innovation and collaboration, with financial assistance from the Province of Limburg, as well as from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In the case of Chemelot, this is taking place in over 800 hectares of fertile ground, and these are not just empty promises, as something is actually happening here. Read about the introduction of Isobionics’ Valancene, for example, which is mentioned elsewhere in the Chemelot Newsletter; “a new and very favorable product”. Or read about the expertise that is being developed in the Biomedical Materials project (BMM), or about the construction of new plants by DSM Agro and Sekisui S-Lec...

Chemelot has all of the means at its disposal to encourage the economic growth of the region, and these are both practical and very powerful. Or as Minister Maria van der Hoeven said recently: “... This is the only way we can make the transition from knowledge to expertise and finally to achieving sales, because at the end of the day, sales are what it’s all about”.

Source: www.chemelot.nl

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