‘Brainport is an economic success story, but also the place where everyone should have opportunities’
The success of the Brainport region is leading to significantly more jobs and residents in the coming years. The region is gearing up for a jump in scale, but that also puts pressure on society. Every resident of the region should be able to participate, but that will not happen automatically. In addition to support from the national government, the business community is investing via the Brainport Partner Fund in measures in the areas of talent development, accessibility, housing, facilities, equal opportunities and social cohesion. NXP is one of the companies that have joined the fund. Director Jean Schreurs of NXP Netherlands: ‘Brainport should not only be an economic success story, but also a place where everyone gets opportunities.’
For NXP, with headquarters and an R&D department at the High Tech Campus, the region is essential. Director Jean Schreurs sees in Brainport not only a centre for innovation but also an important link in NXP's global position. ‘Brainport gives us positive attention from politicians, customers and talents. It is a signboard that helps us shine internationally.’ This visibility translates directly into concrete benefits. For instance, NXP organised the Semiconductor Summer School together with ASML and TU/e, bringing sixty master's students from all over the world to Eindhoven. ‘They come here because of Brainport's good reputation,’ says NXP.
That international allure also comes with a responsibility. ‘We cannot benefit from a booming economy without giving something back to society. As a company, we feel this is our duty. Our employees also ask for this; they want to contribute to a healthy ecosystem,’ says Schreurs. For example, NXP has been doing this for almost 12 and a half years through Samen voor Eindhoven, in which individual employees support social organisations.
Education and equity as spearheads
Within the focus areas of the Brainport Partnerfonds, Schreurs considers talent development and equity crucial. ‘Education is most important for our company. We need technical talents to keep growing. At the same time, opportunity equality is an indispensable basis for a healthy society. Everyone should be able to participate, no matter where their cradle is. This is the only way we can be sustainably successful as a region.’
According to Schreurs, this is not an optional extra. He refers to the global competition in which Brainport finds itself. ‘If we do not continue to grow, we will fall behind. Other countries will then seize our opportunities, and we will reap the bitter fruits later on. Growth is essential, but in a responsible way. Everyone must be able to benefit from the success.’
The power of cooperation
A unique feature of Brainport is the strong collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions and governments. Schreurs calls it a key factor in the region's success. ‘Companies know and trust each other. They are customers, suppliers or cooperation partners. That ecosystem makes Brainport unique.’ He sees a typical example of this in the New Year reception ‘The New Horizon’. ‘The initiative for this comes from the entrepreneurs, not from the government. Companies take the lead here, with focus and perseverance. This is Brainport: put your shoulders to the wheel and do it.’
In addition, Schreurs sees the historical connection with Philips as an important factor. NXP, like many other successful companies, emerged from that parent company. Currently, the company has 2,500 employees in the Netherlands, half of whom focus on research and development. ‘Many companies in Brainport have Philips as a common origin. That creates a shared history and mutual understanding. It makes cooperation natural.’
Besides its focus on collaboration, Brainport also characterises itself as the place that focuses on the future. ‘At NXP, people are now working on technology that we won't think is normal until 10 or 20 years from now. That makes this region unique. Look at the development of the nearfield communication chip. The first research on that took place in 1994, in 2002 the patents were fixed, in 2012 the chip was only really tested. And now everyone thinks it is quite normal that you can make a secure wireless payment with your bank card or your phone. We are working today on the technology that we will only use in abundance decades from now.’ So everything for the future, but all this technological progress must go hand in hand with social commitment, Schreurs warns. ‘Brainport should not only be an economic success story, but also a place where everyone gets opportunities.’
Why every company should join
Schreurs urges other companies to also join the Brainport Partnerfonds. ‘By joining, you become even more part of the big picture. This is such a great initiative; you want to belong. It's a unique opportunity to make an impact and have a say in the future of the region.’ He stresses that participation is open to companies of all sizes. ‘The fund works according to capacity, so there is an opportunity for everyone to join.’
According to Schreurs, the main reason to join the Partner Fund lies in the desire to take care of a good society together. ‘But in addition, such transparently organised cooperation always opens doors to new partners and solutions for the most complex challenges. When you share together what you want to achieve, you gain extra brainpower. That increases the chances of finding the right solutions.’
With the Brainport Partnerfonds, NXP is taking an important step to guard the balance between economic growth and social welfare. ‘We need each other very much to keep moving this region, and thus the Netherlands, Europe and the world, forward.’
