High Tech Campus Eindhoven has again grown significantly in the past year. Chassis Brakes International is the 150th business to move to the Campus.

Together these businesses employ more than 10,000 people here. And the Campus expects to achieve substantial growth next year too.

Located on the original site where Philips carried out research, the Campus opened its doors to other businesses in 2003. So far, the Campus has continued to grow each year, even during the economic crisis. None of the 250,000 m2 available for rent on the Campus is empty. “Last year we grew again by 10%,” says director Frans Schmetz. “And there is plenty of scope for further expansion.”

The key to the success of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven lies in the compact method of organization and the high concentration of smart people and businesses. “This enables the businesses – from multinationals to startups – to make maximum use of each other’s strengths.” The Campus is set up in such a way as to promote interaction between people – whether the meetings be organized or ‘coincidental’. This has proved to be an important factor in the success of the businesses on the Campus.

High Tech Campus Eindhoven serves as a springboard for businesses, including startups, to bring about disruptive innovations. Rotterdam-based professor Henk Volberda says this can be explained by the intensive cooperation between the University of Technology, businesses, startups and government bodies based on the Campus and in the region.

The real estate on the Campus is owned by the investment company Ramphastos, which invested some 20 million euros of its own capital in this business park last year. There are plans to invest a further 35 million in 2017, amongst other things in the construction of the Smart Industry Hub and three other new buildings.

Chassis Brakes International (5,500 employees worldwide) is the 150th campus resident. This company is relocating its headquarters from Amsterdam to High Tech Campus Eindhoven because of the “focus on technology, the international orientation and the good infrastructure”, says CEO Thomas Wünsche.“In addition to that, we are also expecting to benefit significantly from the other 149 businesses on the Campus. This collective brain power is an important factor.” Wünsche expects to be have between 15 and 20 employees based on the Campus next year. “But that number can grow in years to come.”

In 2017 the Campus expects to expand by a further 25,000 m2, partly thanks to the Smart Industry Hub, which is geared specifically to SMBs. The new Shimano headquarters will also be opening then. Schmetz: “We are also expecting a lot from Fotonica. As a region, this gives us an opportunity to develop a new value chain, and the corresponding new jobs. The PhotonDelta initiative set up by the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), in which we are involved together with businesses, government and knowledge institutes, will be the driving force behind this. The focus will therefore continue to be on high-value growth.