Chemelot, the high-tech campus adjacent to DSM in Geleen, and Hogeschool Zuyd, the principal tertiary education establishment in South Limburg are joining hands in a project involving education, research and business related to innovative materials. The project will be supported by a program known as Peaks in the Delta, in the southern Netherlands, and it will involve an open laboratory at the Chemelot campus which will be used as a training center and for professional research and development.

The High Chem & New Materials Campus is moving ahead with its relationship with the college and the new lab will be a symbol of this. The lab will be able to be used by students and small businesses, groups who currently don’t have access to this type of facility. The project is intended to offer structure to a selection of new ideas that are worthy of support from companies like DSM, SABIC, the Hogeschool, or Maastricht University. The exchange of knowledge will be promoted. There will be networks set up and lectures and other meetings will be organized.

Chemelot is working on a service boulevard. This is a location where various service providers can offer their services to new business. This open innovation project is the way to develop new knowledge and new business and to accelerate it, and DSM is the biggest player because this is where it has its research and development.

Nano-technology is playing the role of a catalyst in this. Projects like NanoSouth and the NanoHouse, which have revealed the strength of nano-technology as a catalyst in knowledge transfer and professionalization. And they are also supported by the province of Limburg’s Acceleration Agenda. The provincial government has made a contribution of EUR 160,000 toward the NanoHouse. The Center for New Materials will make use existing structures including the facilities used by the CHEMaterials campus.

At a meeting on April 24, 100 entrepreneurs came to see what the options were, looking at Kriya Materials, which was partnered Nano Specials. This company has developed nano-technological applications - tailor-made nanoparticles for its coatings- which have accelerated as they’ve grown, as a result of the facilities available at Chemelot.

Peaks in the Delta, which has been referred to before, is an economic framework developed by the Dutch government to encourage area-specific economic development. There are major sums of money available for three segments: high-tech systems, materials, food and nutrition; for life-sciences and medical technology; and specific lines which involve knowledge, skill, funding, open innovation and knowledge workers. Keep an eye on the website.
http://www.chemelot.com/