Limburg in top smartest regions in the world

By our partner Brightlands

Limburg is among the most innovative regions worldwide. Every year, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) selects 21 regions around the world that excel in innovative strength, knowledge development and sustainability. Limburg is part of this selection - the so-called Smart21 - and has thus been nominated for the title 'The Intelligent Community of the Year'. This was announced today during the Brightlands symposium at TEFAF, which focused on the impact of innovation.

President and founder of ICF Louis Zacharilla praised the Limburg region for the groundbreaking innovations that arise here through a collaboration of knowledge institutions, education, Brightlands Campuses, business and government. "Limburg is one of the best-kept secrets within the ICF network of places that we research. So much is happening here in the fields of medical technology, new materials, artificial intelligence and healthy food. My suggestion is that they don't keep this potential success story to themselves. It's time for them to get more visibility!"

Motivation for more innovation

Medicator Stephan Satijn responds with delight to the Limburg nomination. "This is great recognition for what we have already achieved in recent years: through our campuses, our commitment to the Einstein Telescope and the strength of our local companies. This motivates us to continue on our chosen path. To focus even more on innovation and ensure that society benefits from it. We want everyone, in Limburg and beyond, to share in the progress we are making. We will promote that story even more forcefully in the coming period, with Brightlands increasingly becoming the brand with which innovative Limburg presents itself."

Sharing knowledge worldwide

The ICF is a global federation of over 200 cities and regions that help each other harness technology for inclusive and broad-based prosperity, with an eye on sustainability to enrich the quality of life. As a member of the ICF, Limburg hopes to learn from the knowledge and experience of other regions around the world on how they organize innovation and development, and to apply these lessons in the further development of Limburg as an innovation region. By doing so, Limburg also wants to increase the chances of the Einstein Telescope coming to this Euroregion.

Proven innovativeness

In order to become a member, the ICF tested Limburg on criteria ranging from proven innovative strength and operation of triple helix collaborations, to knowledge development and digital infrastructure. On this basis, Brightlands Limburg Region was admitted to the federation and subsequently also became one of the 21 nominees for the international title of Intelligent Community of the Year. From these Smart21, the Smartest Region of the Year will eventually be chosen in October. So far, only Brainport Eindhoven in the Netherlands has managed to win this title. That was in 2011.

Leading position Limburg

Last June, the European Union also awarded Limburg the prestigious Regional Innovation Valley label, and the year before, our province was promoted to Innovation Leader on the Regional Innovation Scoreboard. These awards underscore Limburg's leading position in innovation and provide new opportunities for further growth and investment in the region.