Today, former ASML CEO Peter Wennink presented his independent advice on how the Netherlands can strengthen its investment climate and strategic position. He advocates strengthening the chip industry, resolving network congestion, accelerating AI and the digitalisation of healthcare, and talent development. This is to ensure the Netherlands remains future-proof.
Alexandra van Huffelen, chair of The Economic Board Regio Arnhem Nijmegen: “Anyone who wants to see Wennink’s recommendations put into practice needs the Lifeport region. With a powerful combination of high-tech innovation, energy security and smart healthcare, this region contributes directly to the Netherlands’ future earning potential. Government bodies, the business community and knowledge institutions are ready to accelerate the implementation of the key recommendations, with concrete projects, existing infrastructure, strong partnerships and a targeted investment requirement of 1.5 billion euros.”
1. Because Wennink is committed to critical technology... Lifeport is building the new national chip engine
One of the specific projects is the development of an advanced packaging pilot line. This is a testing and development facility where new generations of chip packaging are designed, tested and scaled up for production. Companies, research institutions and suppliers are working together here on new chip technology: this makes chips smaller, faster and more energy-efficient — essential for data centres, AI systems and sustainable electronics. In doing so, we endorse ChipNL as the umbrella organisation for the pilot line.
In addition, Lifeport is committed to:
- Maintenance and expansion of Dutch chip production, thanks to a cluster with 4 of the 6 largest Dutch chip companies and more than 50 specialised semiconductor companies;
- Creation of a knowledge centre for energy-efficient chips in cooperation with the CITC, Radboud University and Noviotech Campus;
- strengthening the chain around chip design, prototyping and backend equipment.
Doeco Terpstra, director NXP Netherlands: "The advanced packaging pilot line in Lifeport is exactly the kind of strategic infrastructure the Netherlands needs. Here we are building the next generation of chips that will keep our industry competitive."
2. Lifeport delivers national solutions to grid congestion envisioned by Wennink
Lifeport houses Connectr, the Energy Innovation ecosystem containing the National Grid Congestion Expertise Centre, where solutions are developed and tested for one of the Netherlands' biggest economic bottlenecks. The region has:
- one of Europe's most important energy hubs, with the headquarters of TenneT - the grid operator responsible for supplying electricity to over 40 million households.
- concrete innovations leading to 15% fewer grid failures,
- projects that provide faster connections for 5,000 waiting companies,
- A powerful energy making industry of €2.43 billion added value per year.
Marcel Hielkema, chairman Connectr: "What Wennink outlines as urgent, we are building here: solutions for a reliable and future-proof energy system. Without energy no growth - Energy is no longer a precondition - it ís the foundation of our earning capacity and we in Lifeport understand that like no other."
3. As Wennink is strongly committed to digitalisation of care... Lifeport accelerates Digital Health & AI
With institutions like Radboud University, Radboudumc, CWZ and Rijnstate as well as more than 290 innovative companies in medtech and pharma and innovation centres such as OnePlanet Research Center, the Lifeport region is one of the strongest health ecosystems in the Netherlands. The cluster generates €3.8 billion in added value and is crucial in keeping healthcare affordable, accelerating digitalisation and attracting international talent. Its spearheads - Drug Development, Digital Health/AI and Neuroscience & Tech - connect seamlessly with national and international health trends
Bertine Lahuis, president of Radboud University and member of The Economic Board: "The potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare seems great in areas where a lot of data is available. For example, our researchers have developed a model that reduces the number of false-positive results of lung cancer screening by 40 per cent. This allows us to prevent unnecessary anxiety in patients, save costs, and reduce shortages."
Why is this possible precisely in Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen?
The Lifeport region has unique, immediately deployable assets to implement Wennink's advice. We require an investment of €1.5 billion, but complement that with regional government and private investment. And we deliver this:
- A complete semicon ecosystem: R&D, pilot line, chip design, backend equipment, supply chains, AI expertise
- An energy infrastructure of European significance: TenneT, Alliander, energy campuses with HAN, ROCs and Seece
- A national-level health campus: Radboud University, Radboudumc, CWZ, Rijnstate
- 40,000 new homes for talent and regional growth
- Strong public-private partnerships that actually accelerate innovations
Helga Witjes, Gelderland economics deputy: "Peter Wennink's report underlines that the Netherlands must make targeted investments in innovation, talent and technology, and create the preconditions to keep companies and production in the Netherlands. Gelderland's food and semicon sectors feature prominently in the report, which I am pleased about, because with our expertise and knowledge in food, semicon and energy, Gelderland contributes to national earning capacity, talent development and the strategic resilience of the Netherlands. To continue fulfilling that role, however, we need perspective and economies of scale. National politics will now also have to provide the preconditions and stability and that calls for clear choices and investments proposed in Wennink's advice."
Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen is rapidly developing into one of the Netherlands' main innovation engines. In this dynamic growth region, where 40,000 new houses will be built in the next few years, companies, knowledge institutes and governments are working intensively together on solutions that provide direct benefits for national earning capacity. Energy, Health and High Tech & Semicon are the powerful pillars of a future-proof economy.
