The Arnhem-Nijmegen region is the most beautiful region in the Netherlands, say Harriët Tiemens, director of the Green Metropolitan Region Arnhem-Nijmegen, and Jan van Dellen, managing director of The Economic Board Regio Arnhem Nijmegen. With its green surroundings, rich cultural history, strong research institutions and innovative companies, the region makes a significant contribution to the Netherlands’ economic output. But there are also vulnerabilities: a struggling economy, gridlocked transport, a growing ‘brain drain’, and pressure on incomes, health and the living environment. To prepare the region for the future, the Regional Investment Agenda (RIA) has been developed, looking 15 years ahead. We spoke to Tiemens and Van Dellen about this. “The RIA must belong to all of us.”
Lifeport Arnhem Nijmegen Region has everything it needs to tackle our major challenges: the energy transition, the future of healthcare, digital and technological innovation, and strengthening our earning potential. We have unique potential in the fields of Energy, Health and High Tech – precisely the areas that are crucial to meeting those challenges, says Tiemens. “With these leading clusters, supported by AI and smart sustainability, this region can play a decisive role. But that potential won’t realise itself automatically. That is why a leap in scale is needed: thinking big and acting big. Only by investing together in housing, work, education, mobility, health and a sustainable living environment can we take the step towards a region where broad prosperity is within everyone’s reach.”
The scale leap and RIA
The stakes are not only economic, says Van Dellen, it is just as much about liveability, a healthy future. "A joint plan for all the region's challenges: one plan for the vital economies of living, accessibility and business climate. Only in this way can we cope with the region's growth in the coming years. This jump in scale, leads to a strategic regional story with an investment agenda." The Regional Investment Agenda (RIA) is the instrument for this. This coherent package of investments - public and private - brings the region together behind one story.
Tens of billions
Within the region, the RIA ensures focus, coherence and implementation. To the outside world, we show that Lifeport is ready to make a serious contribution to the national and European agendas, provided there is also support and resources from that side. Tiemens: "This is a total package of tens of billions, much of which we as a region are already raising ourselves, and for which we are also inviting partners to join us." Van Dellen adds: "Together, the investment agenda and all those involved form a complex whole, but that at the same time creates the nice challenge of ensuring that as many tasks as possible are carried out and as many opportunities as possible are seized."
Lifeport Partner Fund
The plan has already landed well with several entrepreneurs, says Van Dellen, with 24 parties already participating, but it is also necessary to let private parties be part of it. "We warmly invite entrepreneurs to join the Lifeport Partner Fund. This private investment fund strengthens the economic structure of the Arnhem-Nijmegen region and invests for ten years in technology & innovation, talent development, sustainable infrastructure and international positioning."
We have the ingredients and we have the ambition, concludes Tiemens. "Now is the time to think big, invest together and claim our place on the national and international stage. If we do it together, the RIA will belong to all of us."
This article can also be read in Kijk op Arnhem Nijmegen
