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The Netherlands’ Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) tops a list of universities that have co-authored the most papers with the world’s most innovative industrial organisations. What makes the TU/e the #1 University worldwide in bridging the gap between knowledge and business?

If Steef Blok from the TU/e Innovation Lab and Maarten Steinbuch, Distinguished University Professor at TU/e and driving force behind the High Tech Systems Center can’t answer this question, no one can.

From the very start, valorization and collaboration are the university’s middle names. Initiatives such as the TU/e Innovation Lab and the High Tech Systems Center (HTSC) embody an excellent proof-by-example, both founded to fulfill the purpose of enabling future innovation through collaboration between knowledge and industry. How do they do it? Steinbuch and Blok are happy to lift a corner of the veil.

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Credits pictures: Bart van Overbeeke

Collaboration is at the base of a strong historic background

Steinbuch: “There is a very strong historic background between Philips and the TU/e since its foundation in 1956. This close collaboration is at the base of what is today a strong joint focus of the TU/e and surrounding OEM’s, SME’s and startups on the long term business environment of this region. The university has received the task to do fundamental research, turning us into the long-term conscience of the industry. Winning KIvI The The Academic Society Award (“bridging the gap between knowledge and business”) is just one of many confirmations we are undoubtedly on the right track.”

According to Steinbuch, there is another very important reason this region is number one in the embedding of knowledge and businesses in our complete high tech ecosystem:

Integrated systems are deeply rooted in the DNA of Eindhoven

Through the TU/e High Tech Systems Center, the university provides technology for a broad range of market segments. They focus on better — and better integrated — components and system design to enable the next generation of complex high tech systems. And this did not happen by chance. Steinbuch: “Moore’s law is being determined in Veldhoven! AMSL has a very deep understanding on how to build and integrate multi-disciplines needed for high tech complex systems. On a global scale, the embedding of universities, research centers, OEM’s, SME’s, value chain partners and startups in our complete high tech ecosystem is very unique.”

TU/e sets the pace for valorization

Steef Blok from the TU/e Innovation Lab gladly shares his unique angle on how valorization is accelerated in the Netherlands. Blok: “When we measure technological maturity with the Technology Ready Level (TRL), companies are often at level 7 to 8 — product development — and TU/e is at level 2 — research. There is a lot of technological knowledge that has the potential to be made into innovative products, but companies need to be very careful with their strategic choices and can’t afford to take a wrong turn. Take Kodak as a painful example. Horizon 2020, STW and NWO fortunately steer research organizations like ours more and more towards the application of research results into the business environment.

With TU/e Innovation Lab, companies are able to develop strategic partnerships with research organizations like ours more easily, and therefore drastically reduce costs and risks. With the help of startups (for example), the strategic partnerships between companies and TU/e close the gap between TRL 2 and 7. You could really say: where TU/e ends, business begins!”

The cocktail of collaboration, valorization and integrated systems makes Eindhoven truly unique on a global scale. Steinbuch: “Combined with the entrepreneurial and open culture of the Dutch, and the physical proximity of companies, our region holds something that we shouldn’t take for granted!”

Did the story of Maarten Steinbuch and Steef Blok made you curious about what this region has to offer for your company? Then make sure to read ‘Eindhoven’s tech scene at a glance’. A document packed with tech hotspots, resources, investors, accelerators and more to help you navigate this exciting ecosystem and find the best ways to expand your business. Simply download Eindhoven’s tech scene at a glance and tap into the vibe!

DOWNLOAD EINDHOVEN'S TECH SCENE - AT A GLANCE