Convincing start for Brainport Partnerfonds
The initial results of Brainport Partnerfonds were presented to business partners yesterday during the Funding Partner Overleg (FPO) 2025. The fund got off to a convincing start. Forty-seven companies have already joined, contributing financially to the Brainport region's leap in scale. The first results are also becoming visible. These range from the construction of (fast) cycle paths and the retraining of status holders for IT jobs to company volunteers who help dozens of people file their tax returns free of charge. More than 40 corporate partners were present. ‘During the well-organised event, networking led to many valuable conversations and new connections.’ According to a participant in the fund.
The partners of Brainport Partnerfonds were warmly welcomed by VDB Notarissen in Waalre. The company is a shining example of corporate social responsibility. It was one of the first companies to join Brainport Partnerfonds this year and was delighted to welcome other entrepreneurs. Marco Haanappel, managing partner at VDB: ‘In a rapidly changing world, it is very important that we, as partners of Brainport Partnerfonds , join forces and strengthen each other. In this way, we can ensure that the Brainport region continues to grow and flourish for our children and grandchildren.’
Growth in number of partner companies and initial results
Rob Janssen, chairman of Brainport Partnerfonds, presented the initial results. These results relate to the growth of the private fund and the number of affiliated business partners on the one hand, and developments in the four objectives of the fund on the other: accessibility, acceleration of housing construction, talent development and the Social Brainport Agenda.
Interactive presentation on geopolitics
The programme also included an informative presentation on geopolitics. Rem Korteweg, senior research fellow and programme lead for geopolitics at Clingendael, and Remko Blom, Senior Research Analyst Chief Economist Office at PWC (Partner Brainport Partnerfonds), discussed developments in geopolitics and how these affect the boardrooms of entrepreneurs in the Brainport region. This sparked a lively discussion between the participants and the speakers. The book “Impact of Geopolitics” was the starting point for the substantive discussion.
Talent development
Brainport Partnerfonds is a co-financier of the Brainport Talent programme. In 2025, the programme contributed in various ways to developing, attracting and retaining talent in the Brainport region. For example, a programme was set up to retrain status holders for IT jobs. The first group of 15 participants started in October and six companies are involved in the programme to guide them towards a job. In addition, 68 new hybrid teachers have been deployed to solve teacher shortages in education. These are employees of regional companies who spend part of their time teaching.
The two regional employment centres, UWV, Brainport Industries College, Metaalunie, Summa, Ter AA, the municipality of Eindhoven and the municipality of Helmond are also working together on solutions to retain technical talent in the metal sector in view of the current uncertainty in the semiconductor sector. Investments have also been made in promoting the Brainport region internationally and attracting international talent to the Brainport region and community. Finally, a first version of a talent monitor has been developed to monitor the talent challenge.
‘These are just a few examples of more than fifty projects that we are developing with employers, educational institutions and government bodies to meet the enormous demand for technical talent in the region,’ says Astrid van Deelen, Labour Market & Education Manager at Brainport Development. Other recent developments that contribute to meeting this enormous demand for talent include the opening of the first cleanroom in vocational education at Ter Aa and the opening of the Casimir Institute at TU/e. Brainport Partnerfonds is the glue between the bricks that makes the comprehensive approach to talent that we envisage possible."
Accessibility and acceleration of housing construction
The Eindhoven Metropolitan Region (MRE) is responsible for implementing the accessibility and acceleration of housing construction programmes through the MRE Realisation Company. MRE receives public funding for this and a private contribution from companies through Brainport Partnerfonds.
In 2025, Brainport Partnerfonds contributed to the realisation of various infrastructural and organisational mobility solutions. For example, work has started on six (fast) cycle paths in the region, with the first (partial) completions expected in 2026. Preparatory work has started on various other measures, including prioritising the Brainport hubs. The hubs in Best and Maarheeze will be realised in 2027-2028.
Furthermore, public transport buses on the A67 between Eersel and Veldhoven can now use the hard shoulder to avoid traffic jams. Preparations have started for the A2 and A50 motorways to allow buses to drive on the hard shoulder there as well. In addition, various campaigns have been developed to encourage employees, via regional employers, to consider alternatives to the car. One example is Brainport Bike Week. Finally, preparations have started for the transformation of the station area in Eindhoven.
In the area of accelerating housing construction, a Housing Realisation Team has been set up with experts who support municipalities in specific cases. They started with a few cases in October 2025: accelerating the realisation of student housing in Helmond and the realisation of new construction on an old factory site in Laarbeek that is stagnating due to network congestion.
Building a socially strong region
Brainport Partnerfonds contributes financially to Brainport voor Elkaar (Brainport for Each Other), an association of businesses, educational institutions, government bodies and social organisations that is working to build a socially strong region. This programme has got off to a flying start, partly thanks to the private contribution from Brainport Partnerfonds, says programme manager Jacline de Kort. ‘The association now has around 95 members. Together with these members, much has already been achieved on various themes. A number of examples can be seen in the compilation film below.’
Brainport voor Elkaar focuses on themes such as financial fitness, inclusive employment, improving basic skills and the deployment of employer volunteers. A good example is the tax return day, when residents with an income up to the median could visit 11 locations in 9 municipalities without an appointment for free help with their tax returns. Company volunteers made their time and expertise available to support people. In addition to practical help, visitors also received advice on benefits and financial arrangements. The initiative shows how cooperation within the region makes a difference. Thanks to the efforts of employers, social organisations, and local partners, more than 200 residents were helped.
Another good example is the more than 450 international employees who enrolled in Dutch language courses through the Employer Approach Dutch Language programme, in collaboration with the Municipality of Eindhoven and Holland Expat Centre South. By learning Dutch at work, employees not only become better integrated in the workplace, but also feel more at home in the region. Companies affiliated with Brainport Partnerfonds can become members of Brainport voor Elkaar free of charge to participate in this programme.
Network
The Funding Partner Consultation takes place annually. Entrepreneurs affiliated with the Brainport Partnerfonds are invited to networking events three times a year. During all meetings, partners are given ample opportunity to exchange insights about Brainport's scale leap. In addition to the affiliated companies, representatives of the implementing organisations and other relevant stakeholders are also present.
Less than a year after Brainport Partnerfonds was launched (formally on 1 January 2025), the initial results are positive. Rob Janssen, chair of Brainport Partnerfonds: "I am proud that there is so much support and commitment for the Brainport region's scale-up. It shows why the fund is so valuable to entrepreneurs; they care about the region and its people. Entrepreneurs are taking responsibility in this way."