Kennispark Twente at the forefront

Kennispark Twente, a cooperative venture involving the University of Twente, the Province of Overijssel and the Municipality of Enschede, is one of only four genuine knowledge campuses in the Netherlands. This has emerged from a recent study by Buck Consultants International, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. The study was designed to investigate the economic added value of stimulating campus developments.

Of the 55 initiatives that refer to themselves as "campus", over half are no more than ordinary business parks which fail to meet the criteria that apply to a campus. The study found that there are only four fully fledged campuses in the Netherlands. Kennispark Twente is one of these.

According to the generally accepted definition, a campus is:

- a physical location with high-quality real estate and joint facilities
- a location aimed at promoting the foundation, growth and acquisition of knowledge-intensive companies and organizations and at boosting their mutual cooperation
- a location with an active policy geared towards facilitating R&D and innovation, and the transfer of knowledge, people and capital to and between organizations on the campus and aimed at attracting knowledge-intensive locations. 

Buck Consultants found that there are only four places in the Netherlands which match this description: Kennispark Twente, Food Valley in Wageningen, Bio Science Park in Leiden and High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. These four mature campuses, along with the "fledgling locations" of Science Park Watergraafsmeer in Amsterdam and Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, merit the description of campus of national importance.

The report continues: "A campus of national importance is more than the natural crystallization point for open innovation and public-private opportunities for cooperation in R&D, attracting knowledge workers and R&D departments alike. It is also an innovation accelerator of national significance, thanks to its ability to stand out from the crowd and to respond actively to national priorities. In the international competition for R&D centres and knowledge workers, a good campus can be a key player."

The researchers observe that, unlike its neighbours, the Netherlands only has a handful of fully fledged campuses and describe this as "a major competitive disadvantage in the current knowledge economy." In order to remove that disadvantage, Buck Consultants recommend that the government should make advanced research facilities available, provide rent allowance and improve the accessibility and quality of the campuses.

The Director of Kennispark Twente, Dr Kees Eijkel, is pleased with the report. "It is recognition for four years of working hard to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation and to develop an area that contributes to these goals. It's the crowning glory for our many active partners and the Kennispark itself."

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