Looking back at The New Horizon 2025
A diverse gathering of entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, students and more ushered in the new year on Tuesday, 7 January 2025, at the 11th edition of The New Horizon, the Brainport region's New Year's meeting organised by 13 partners. Almost 1,000 visitors were present, including students from various educational institutions who proudly displayed their work. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, chairman of Brainport Foundation and mayor of Eindhoven, also spoke. He compared the flourishing Brainport region to a tree: firmly rooted, with many branches and resistant to outside influences.
The region has evolved into a thriving ecosystem over the past 134 years, with a strong focus on technology and innovation. Dijsselbloem used the metaphor of a tree to illustrate this growth, highlighting companies like ASML, TU Eindhoven, and VDL-ETG as its branches. With over 7,000 tech manufacturing companies, the region has experienced significant expansion. He emphasised the importance of continuing to nurture this fertile foundation, despite increasing pressure on resources, space, and talent. Sustainability, greening, and collaboration with surrounding areas are essential to maintaining balance. The social cohesion of the region was also highlighted, with initiatives like Brainport voor Elkaar working towards an inclusive society where everyone benefits from economic growth.
Video only available in Dutch.
A key milestone was the establishment of the Brainport Partnerfonds by twelve companies, a unique public-private financing model in the Netherlands and Europe. This fund aims to attract over €200 million in private capital, unlocking €4 billion in public funding. It underscores the business community’s commitment to the region’s future and offers significant opportunities for further development. Dijsselbloem concluded his speech with optimism for the future, using the image of a strong tree to symbolise confidence in the region’s resilience and growth.
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