Brainport Eindhoven region is a breeding ground for innovation and the home base for companies, and world-class knowledge and research institutes. The growing concentration of top technology and knowledge industry is closely connected with the very diverse manufacturing industry in the region. Brainport Eindhoven region devises and manufactures the technology of the near future, the technology that contributes to a safe, green, and caring society and to the sustainable economic development of the Netherlands.
The heart of Brainport Eindhoven region is Eindhoven. The majority of the technology companies and the research institutes are located within a 40-kilometre radius around Eindhoven. But Brainport’s geographic boundaries are difficult to define. Brainport Eindhoven region is a network economy with numerous partnerships across regional boundaries and international frontiers. The triangle Eindhoven - Louvain - Aachen (ELAt) for instance is an important knowledge area.
Among the numerous innovative and renowned knowledge and research institutes are: Philips, DAF, ASML, VDL, FEI Company, TomTom, Eindhoven University of Technology, TNO Industrie en Techniek, Design Academy Eindhoven, PDE Automotive, High Tech Campus Eindhoven, High Tech Automotive Campus, and Holst Centre.
The figure below shows how knowledge industry and manufacturing industry meet one another in Brainport Eindhoven region. Many first tier suppliers are located near their major clients, the so-called Original Equipment Manufacturers or simply the 'OEMs'. But also second tier and third tier companies are located relatively close by. The five OEMs on the map are ASML, DAF, FEI Company, Philips Healthcare, and OCÉ.
Brainport Eindhoven region makes a major contribution to the innovative strength and the economy of the Netherlands. Some facts:
• Brainport Eindhoven region belongs to the three European top regions when it comes to patent density;
• More than half of the annual patent applications in the Netherlands are made by Brainport;
• Brainport Eindhoven region provides more than 50,000 jobs in the high-tech, automotive, and manufacturing industry and
in high tech services;
• Brainport Eindhoven region has with 36% the largest share in the overall Dutch private R&D expenditures;
• Brainport Eindhoven region spends 8% of the Gross Regional Product on R&D and is as such the only region in the Netherlands – and one of the few in Europe – that meets the European target of 3%.
