Opening CHILL Excellence Centre: from smart solutions to innovative products

Limburg has added a unique innovation hub since today. At Aviation Valley near Maastricht Aachen Airport, the CHILL Excellence Centre opened today, 7 May. This new incubator brings together students, companies and researchers to design, test and prepare smart solutions for actual applications in various sectors such as defence, aviation, manufacturing and sports.

The CHILL Excellence Centre is an important link in the Limburg innovation chain. Students from MBO, HBO and WO work there together with the business community on current practical issues. The state-of-the-art facilities make it easier for Limburg SMEs to join innovative projects and the centre offers plenty of room for co-creation. It is a place where people with different backgrounds and expertise challenge and inspire each other and where talent is given every opportunity to develop. It builds on the solid foundation of the Brightlands Chemelot Campus and connects to Defence's Smart Materials Chemelot Innovation Hub and the defence activities on the VDL Born site.

The Province of Limburg is supporting this innovation environment with a grant of over 1.3 million euros. This will not only strengthen the regional innovative power, but also prepare the talent of tomorrow. Deputy Stephan Satijn emphasises its importance:"Limburg consciously chooses progress through innovation. The CHILL Excellence Centre is an important investment in our innovative strength. Here, education, business and government work together on real solutions; from ideas on paper to realisation in the workplace. In this way, we not only strengthen our economy and employment, but put Limburg firmly on the map as an innovative region - nationally and internationally."

The opening took place in the hangar of the CHILL Excellence Center at Aviation Valley, in cooperation with Vista College, Zuyd Hogeschool, Maastricht University, Brightlands Campuses, the Ministry of Defence and the Limburg business community, among others. With the CHILL Excellence Center, Limburg is taking another important step forward in accelerating innovative applications as well as training talent for the future.