Brainport now at Strijp-TQ: 'This is where we belong'

Paul van Nunen in the new office of Brainport Eindhoven. © PhotoMeulenhof

EINDHOVEN - After the successes of recent times, Brainport is preparing for a new phase. From a new location: Strijp-TQ: "This is where we belong," says director Paul van Nunen.
Hans Vermeeren 17-08-19 Source: ED

Enthusiastically, Paul van Nunen points out the view from the new Brainport office to his visitors. "Here we truly feel at home, right in the middle of everything that makes Brainport so unique," says the man who has been at the helm of Brainport Eindhoven for just over a year.
After ten years, Bruine Heer on Emmasingel in the heart of the city, Brainport moved this summer to Strijp-TQ on Achtseweg-Zuid. Van Nunen and his colleagues moved into a brand new office on the third floor of a extensively renovated former Philips building.
The view from the office? In the foreground, you can currently see the completely neglected Gloeilampplantsoen, which will soon be restored to its former glory. A little further away is the Clock Building, next to the rest of Strijp-S. In the background, you can see the high-rise buildings in the city center, as well as the Eindhoven University of Technology. More in the foreground are the buildings where engineers and designers from prominent Eindhoven companies such as Additive Industries and Van Berlo Design are located. And one floor below is Fontys with its ICT program. "With this view, we can tell the whole story of Brainport."
"From here, we will see in the coming years how the transformation of the center of Eindhoven takes shape," looks ahead Van Nunen. He himself has just come out of vacation mode, and it is still relatively quiet at the Brainport headquarters. "Don't be mistaken," he says, pretending to be offended. "There is hard work being done here on the preparations for the new season. And after the successes - I actually prefer to call them steps - in the past year, we are not setting the bar low at all. It is time for the next, new step."

Lubricant
A move fits well into this development. "Of course, we will continue our work for SMEs, technical education, and representation in The Hague and Brussels. But we will also have to give a suitable follow-up to all those great results. We want to now also utilize our role as a lubricant for the regional economy and cooperation between government, education, and business in the areas of climate, energy, and mobility."
The Eindhoven resident is referring to those successes mainly in the context of the Regional Deal that Southeast Brabant closed with the current cabinet led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD), coincidentally the former boss of Van Nunen when he was still director of the Government Information Service (RVD). A deal that has since led, among other things, to the opening of the research institute Eindhoven Engine, provided an impetus for the development of photonics, and enabled regional libraries to offer free membership. Additionally, he points to the partnership of companies with PSV under the name Metropolitan Region Brainport Eindhoven.
"It's really great that the government is investing 130 million euros in this region over four years," he says. "It's not only a wonderful recognition of the role, significance, and economic value of Brainport Eindhoven as the third mainport for the Netherlands. It's also a great start to address some of the backlogs in Southeast Brabant in terms of cultural facilities, talent development, and social innovation. Especially because in addition to that investment from The Hague, there is also 240 million euros from educational institutions, businesses, local governments, and the province."

Difficult
"In addition, we are currently fully engaged in the National Brainport Action Agenda, in which we aim to ensure that in addition to the one-time boost from the Regional Deal, more funding from The Hague will structurally come to Southeast Brabant," he continues, still just as enthusiastic. "This is mainly a matter of patience and perseverance. Indeed, it is a challenge, I will not deny that."
But the tide has turned for Brainport, he nevertheless observes with satisfaction. "It is important to note that Southeast Brabant is now sitting at the table in The Hague as an equal partner. We are no longer just the ones asking. As Brainport, we are now one of the partners working to find solutions to societal issues. That is a very different starting point."

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