More than a hundred companies committed to sustainable practices, renowned educational institutions that are increasingly adopting sustainability as a guiding principle, unique expertise at universities and universities of applied sciences, active residents, national recognition as a circular region, and an organisation of local authorities (GMR) that has made sustainability its ambition.
A great deal is happening in this area in Lifeport, and collaboration is really gaining momentum.
Strategist Jan Luijten works for three regional organisations – Nijmegen City Council, the Green Metropolitan Region and The Economic Board – to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. How does he view Lifeport as a sustainable region, how can collaboration be achieved, and what are the benefits?
A region of green and sustainable
Luijten explains how the Lifeport region already appealed to him when he started his studies: “I’ve always wanted to do something related to the environment, nature, sustainability and the landscape. So naturally, I looked to this region – you’ve got Van Hall Larenstein, Radboud University and Wageningen University here. And that made perfect sense to me, given this landscape and these people. It’s a particular sort of person who has chosen to live here for that very reason. So sustainability is in the region’s DNA. I’ve always felt that.”
She studied Land Use Planning at Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
Triple helix: combining to create movement
Luijten has now been working on sustainability projects in the Lifeport region for several years through his various employers. He brings together a wide range of stakeholders to get projects off the ground within a triple helix framework.
The triple helix group (government, education and business) that he set up for this purpose focuses on smart sustainability. The monthly meetings of this triple-helix group, attended by representatives from HAN, HVHL, RU, network organisations and public authorities, focus on improving cooperation and coordination.
For example, the group provides strategic advice and identifies emerging sustainability issues so that they can be put on the agenda in good time, whilst also drawing attention to spatial functions that contribute to sustainability. The group is also committed to securing funding.
“This region is teeming with initiatives and groups working on complementary aspects of sustainability, but these efforts are fragmented and they do not always collaborate. Sometimes one initiative is organised on top of another. That is, in a way, the downside of having so many active groups. And in the meantime, many necessary transitions are on the horizon. We’re facing problems with nitrogen, energy and grid congestion; water congestion is on the way, along with material shortages and a shortage of people. I think it would be good for us in the region to help one another with all these issues and, in doing so, contribute to a future-proof economy and broad prosperity. We can achieve this by strengthening our structures and focusing a little more on collaboration. Bringing people together so they can work on something together – that makes me happy; I believe that is the mission of the Helix Group.”
Connecting entrepreneurs
“What fascinates me and what I enjoy about this work is that many entrepreneurs are also responding to this. You can see this reflected in Lifeport’s interactive map on sustainability, which features over a hundred entrepreneurs who want to achieve sustainable goals through entrepreneurship. That makes me happy.
The government has its own role to play in this. For example, it is responsible for legal compliance, infrastructure and spatial planning, as well as collaboration and support. The government can do a great deal, for instance through its procurement policy, but it is not always the most logical point of contact for businesses.
So if, within a triple helix framework – including the education sector – we can get companies on board that want to work on sustainability and help them with that transition through grants and by drafting compelling project proposals, then we can achieve a bit more collectively.”
Cooperation with education and research
“We want to further develop the region as a living lab with innovative triple-helix learning projects. Take, for example, the knowledge roundtables organised by Lifeport@. These cover topics such as the heat islands in the centre of Arnhem or the redevelopment of the station area in Nijmegen, with all the associated circular economy issues. Students from Van Hall Larenstein, HAN, RU, WUR and Yuverta are getting to work on these.
And we also organised those knowledge roundtables at the ROC, in the centre of Nijmegen. I think that link to vocational education is very important. These are the people who will eventually have to put it into practice, particularly when it comes to circular construction.”
Six region deal projects and three knowledge hubs
Six projects have been set up within the ‘Deal Gezonde Groene Groei’ (Healthy Green Growth) region. “As part of this, we have helped to develop three knowledge hubs. Soil Valley for soil and water. The VIA-T training centre for the construction sector. And the third is in the pipeline: Lifeport@ Innovation Hub Circular.”
Click here for an overview of sustainable organisations and projects in Lifeport
