Within the province of Limburg, the Netherlands, Brightlands has four innovation campuses that contribute to breakthroughs in the fields of sustainability, health and digitalisation. CEO Astrid Boeijen discussed the organisation’s research institutions and new Circular Hub, in conversation with Antonia Cole.
INone innovation ecosystem, 353 companies, plus 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers and students come together to progress the future of society. With four campuses, Brightlands’ specialist research impacts a variety of industries.
At Brightlands’ Campus Greenport Venlo, researchers investigate future farming, healthy and sustainable nutrition, as well as bio-circular economy. The Chemelot Campus develops circular materials, biomedical solutions and sustainable processes. Artificial intelligence, data science and smart digital services are the specialisations of the Smart
Services Campus in Heerlen. Lastly, the Maastricht Health Campus focuses on valorisation, investment and funding.
Brightlands creates a community where people can inspire and support one another. Government bodies, knowledge institutes and businesses have collaborated to create this space where pioneering projects, startups and ideas can thrive and evolve.
With access to state-of-the-art R&D facilities, including advanced laboratories, powerful MRI scanners, analytical tools, pilot plants, field labs, an intera –ction lab and more, Brightlands makes innovation possible. This allows
people to work together to find solutions for the world.
“All of our campuses connect and contribute to each other,” said CEO Astrid Boeijen. “The focuses of each campus overlap, meaning that developments from each sector help to progress the others. We are a hub for innovation, and we are creating a better future through projects like our new Circular Hub.”
Inspiring change
Founded in 2012 by the province of Limburg, Maastricht University and other large corporations, Brightlands began with the Chemelot campus. Followed by the Maastricht Health Campus, then both the Greenport Venlo and Smart Services campuses. Now, Brightlands covers the whole of Limburg, with 16,000 workers and 14,000 students collaborating to create progress and growth.
“Brightlands has been a major factor in the economic transition of Limburg,” explained Ms Boeijen. “The economic focus of Limburg used to be coal mining, but when the mines closed, the economy became reliant on a small number of large organisations.
“What Brightlands has done is diversify the economy. We have brought hundreds of companies to Limburg, making the economy more diverse and less dependent on a select few employers.”
The Brightlands campuses not only contribute to the Dutch economy through the provision of jobs, but they also create a space for talented individuals. Students are able to study within the relevant environments, with appropriate support, so that companies can then access this talent.
Overall, Brightlands provides progression and knowledge in major societal and global transitions. The collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions and governments, referred to by the organisation as the triple helix model, allows for real and significant results.
“This is what sets us apart from other innovation clusters,” said Ms Boeijen. “We really make a difference, both economically and societally. Brightlands provides a place for companies to evolve their ideas into industry-altering developments.”
Space for sustainability
Brightlands Chemelot campus has 3,000 employees and 1,000 students, as well as over 130 organisations. The focus of the campus is to improve the world by creating new technologies that address global sustainability, climate and health.
The campus also extends sustainability into its own processes. 75% of buildings have an A energy status and Brightlands is currently investing in measures to further enhance the energy efficiency of buildings. The organisation’s installation of solar panels will not only increase the organisation’s reliance on renewable energy sources but will also limit the overall environmental impact of the campus.
Also, Brightlands has been working on the creation of its new Chemelot Circular Hub demonstration facility. With the campus’ core focuses being circular materials and sustainable chemical processes, this new expansion will progress the possibilities for development in those fields.
The space will work to accelerate breakthroughs in the recycling of plastics. Through this, the organisation hopes to create processes that recycle plastics to produce raw materials on an industrial scale, closing the circle.
This extension of the campus will feature an added ten hectares of space, totalling 30 hectares overall, as well as advanced research facilities. This will allow more companies and researchers to collaborate and develop innovations in the field of sustainability.
Brightlands expects to begin construction of the Circular Hub in September 2024 and to have completed two buildings by 2026. This project has been initiated t hrough a collaboration between Chemelot Campus, Maastricht University and TNO, bringing together knowledge, resources and resolve to promote plastic recycling.
“We are an innovation campus,” explained Ms Boeijen. “This new space will create a wealth of possibilities for what we can achieve in plastic recycling. I am really proud of the progress we are making, not only for the campus, but for the environment. We are taking an active step to accelerate the global transition into a more circular economy. Through our innovations, we will solve the worlds issues.”
The Circular Hub will feature plastic waste pre-processing and polymer processing facilities, as well as a circular house. This is a space where parties will be able to collaborate, utilising the facilities state-of-the-art resources, to create and develop new ideas.
Collective progress
Cooperation and partnership are integral aspects of all Brightlands’ operations. The variety of knowledge institutions active within the organisation allow companies to establish themselves at the campuses and work within a community to evolve technology and ideas.
“It is the combination of people that come together at Brightlands that makes us so successful,” said Ms Boeijen. “Our partners bring their own knowledge and experience to the campuses, which are invaluable resources, and that allows us to progress society and solve global challenges. These worldwide issues affect us all, so it only makes sense for us to work alongside one another to resolve them.”
Moving forward into the future, Brightlands intends to continue growing and developing innovations. The Chemelot campus hopes to gain 2,000 workers and 1,000 students by 2030, all of whom will contribute to the world’s sustainability progression. The organisation also hopes to increase its relevance within the Dutch and European economies.
“I have high hopes for the future of Brightlands,” concluded Ms Boeijen. “When we were founded, topics like sustainable chemical processes and circular materials or data science and AI were not prevalent within society. Now, we see these topics leading conversations around the world. Brightlands will continue to stay a step ahead and pioneer the future.
“It is very rewarding to be able to make a difference in the world and offer positive contributions to society and the economy. We are still growing and there is so much potential for the future of the organisation, it is exciting to be a part of it.” n
