From hidden gem to European innovation leader
Once considered a hidden gem, Brainport Eindhoven is now firmly on the global map as one of Europe’s most powerful tech and innovation hubs. Located in the South of the Netherlands, the region combines a world-class high-tech ecosystem, cutting-edge research, and outstanding quality of life. With thousands of career opportunities and a strong focus on deep tech and advanced manufacturing, Brainport Eindhoven has established itself as a leading innovation hotspot, shaping the future of technology and attracting talent and investors from all over the world.
From regional hub to European innovation leader
Located in the South of the Netherlands, Brainport has become one of Europe’s most powerful innovation ecosystems. The European Commission’s Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2025 ranks Noord-Brabant – the province home to Brainport – 26th of 241 regions and labels it an Innovation Leader. The IMF confirms the region’s economic weight: Brainport accounts for over 30% of all private R&D spending in the Netherlands and is 8th in the EU for business R&D intensity.
With thousands of career opportunities, a strong focus on deep tech and advanced manufacturing, and outstanding quality of life, Brainport Eindhoven is firmly shaping the future of technology and attracting talent and investors from all over the world.
What does an innovation hub mean?
There are various definitions of innovation hubs. The most common meaning is that innovation hubs are places that facilitate subject-matter expertise on technology, knowledge and strategic innovation management, and industry-specific insights.
On the one hand, hubs enable knowledge transfer between researchers and business experts; on the other hand, they connect industry, government and academia. Globally, innovation hubs are metropolitan regions that lead the flow of innovation, influence how resources are allocated, and thrive on unique advantages in science and technology. Brainport Eindhoven exemplifies this definition in practice.
Outstanding innovation hub in Europe
The Eindhoven region combines industry leaders, scale-ups and applied research like few places in Europe. Companies such as Philips, DAF, VDL Groep, and Philips spin-offs ASML, Thermo Fisher Scientific (former FEI), and Neways are headquartered here. They are joined by Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and TNO, which provide cutting-edge research and applied innovation.
The High Tech Campus Eindhoven, often referred to as the world’s smartest square kilometre, is home to over 300 companies and labs, creating a unique density of hardware and deep-tech startups. According to the IMF, this concentration explains why Noord-Brabant is among the most R&D-intensive regions in Europe.
Innovation leader and global frontrunner
The European Patent Office (EPO) Patent Index 2024 confirms Brainport Eindhoven’s innovative strength, with the Netherlands ranking among Europe’s top countries for patent applications. In an earlier joint study on Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies by the EPO and European Commission, the Eindhoven region was ranked among the top 15 innovation clusters worldwide, underlining Southeast Brabant’s position as a global frontrunner.
Combined with Noord-Brabant’s Innovation Leader status in the RIS 2025, Brainport Eindhoven is no longer a rising star, it has matured into a proven global powerhouse in innovation.
An innovation ecosystem with strong focus on deep tech
Investors also recognize Brainport’s unique profile. In a TechCrunch survey, Eindhoven was highlighted as an essential European hub with a strong focus on high-tech hardware and deep tech.
The region’s strength spans photonics, robotics, semiconductors, medical devices, materials science, automotive technology, sustainability, MedTech, Big Data, and precision engineering. To reinforce this, TU/e recently launched a new institute for semiconductors, quantum and photonics, adding to the already strong industrial base around ASML. Together with TNO’s applied research and public-private innovation programs, Brainport has created one of the most robust academic-industry axes in Europe.
Brainport Eindhoven: a tech city to watch
International real estate consultant Savills has labelled Eindhoven as a rising global tech contender in its Tech Cities research program. Shifts in how people choose where to live and work – with greater attention to well-being, sustainable mobility, and health – have only strengthened Brainport’s appeal. With its cycle networks, access to open space, and clean air, Eindhoven combines innovation with quality of life in a way few other tech hubs can.
Among the best tech cities in Europe to work and live
Relocation platform Movehub has ranked Eindhoven among the top seven best tech cities in Europe for finding work, alongside Tallinn, Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Stockholm, and Lisbon. Moreover, ECA International lists Eindhoven as the 5th most liveable city for expatriates in Europe, making it one of the most attractive locations for international talent.
Large community of international engineers, scientists and IT specialists
The Brainport Eindhoven region is a magnet for global talent, attracting a large and fast-growing international community of engineers, scientists and IT professionals. Brainport Eindhoven has rapidly evolved from a promising regional hub to a globally recognized deep-tech powerhouse. With its Innovation Leader ranking in Europe, top-15 patent cluster worldwide, strong academic-industry collaboration, and outstanding liveability, the region has secured a place among the most important tech and innovation hotspots in the world.
