Making real impact requires strong collaboration
On Monday, June 2nd, more than 130 professionals from Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) across the Netherlands gathered at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) for the KTO Masterclass. This edition was organized by The Gate – TU/e’s very own KTO – and centered on exploring the Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem and strengthening national academic collaboration.
After collecting their name badges, participants were welcomed with a traditional ‘Brabants worstenbroodje’ and a cup of coffee. The plenary session in the Blauwe Zaal kicked off with a warm welcome from TU/e’s Rector Magnificus Silvia Lenaerts, followed by an introduction by Jeroen van Woerden, Managing Director of The Gate. He emphasized the value of the KTO community and shared a clear message: creating impact starts with strong connections and close collaboration.
The power of Brainport
Next on the agenda was the keynote by Stijn Steenbakkers, Eindhoven’s Alderman for Brainport and Economic Affairs. He illustrated how the Brainport region has become a driver of economic growth, innovation, and societal progress, thanks to intense collaboration between government, industry, and knowledge institutions – the so-called Triple Helix. He underlined the region’s unique position with impressive figures, such as the fact that 25.7% of all private R&D investment in the Netherlands originates from Brainport.
His presentation laid the foundation for a panel discussion featuring, in addition to Steenbakkers and van Woerden, Brigit van Dijk (CEO of the Brabant Development Agency) and Paul van Nunen (Brainport Eindhoven). The panelists engaged in a lively dialogue on regional cooperation and how such strong partnerships can effectively boost innovation.
After the coffee break, participants attended one of four parallel workshops, diving into topics such as:
- Building successful photonics ecosystems (PhotonDelta)
- Medtech and biotech spin-offs (Pivot Park)
- Economic and knowledge security in academia (RVO and TU/e)
- Equity, diversity & inclusion in knowledge transfer (Utrecht Holdings)
Visiting the High Tech Campus
After lunch, the group traveled by bike or tandem to Eindhoven’s High Tech Campus (HTC). There, Hilde de Vocht, Ecosystem Management Director at HTC, gave an introduction to the campus. Participants then heard from Luc Augustin, CTO of SMART Photonics, who explained what photonics is, what his company does, and highlighted the importance of close collaboration with TU/e.
Following the presentations, participants visited several high-tech companies on site, including Signify, HighTechXL, the AI Innovation Center, and Twice. The day concluded with a fun pub quiz – with a rotating trophy up for grabs – and informal drinks. The group then cycled back to the TU/e campus, just in time for the Academic Startup Competition.
The KTO Masterclass 2025 once again demonstrated that innovation thrives at the intersection of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and societal engagement.
