“In the rest of the country, our region is mainly known as a place to relax. And that’s fine, because it’s a brilliant place to do just that. But there’s so much more to it than that!” These are the words of Ahmed Marcouch, Mayor of Arnhem and Chair of The Economic Board. We meet him alongside Bertine Lahuis, chair of the board of directors at Radboudumc and a member of The Economic Board. They talk about Lifeport Arnhem-Nijmegen Region, how research institutions, public authorities and entrepreneurs are collaborating on this initiative, and what this collaboration means for our region. “This region offers tremendous potential, and we want everyone to discover it.”
Anyone who knows the area in and around Arnhem and Nijmegen even a little bit knows that it’s beautiful here. Naturally for holidaymakers, but certainly also for entrepreneurs. With its strong focus on Health, High Tech and Energy, this region is one of the most progressive in the country, with an impact felt across the globe. After all, these sectors place high demands on the technological and innovative capabilities of entrepreneurs.
Intensive cooperation
There is intensive cooperation in Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen. For example, by the eight major knowledge institutions: Radboud University, Radboudumc, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (HvHL), HAN University of Applied Sciences, ArtEZ University of the Arts, ROC Nijmegen, Rijn IJssel and Yuverta. Lahuis: "The knowledge institutions can and want to make a difference. They are the key to attracting, training and retaining new talent. Very important, because it's all about people!"
Continued investment
Knowledge institutions are essential engines for growth, innovation and social progress, Marcouch says, and actively seek cooperation with the business community to best match their demand. "In addition, entrepreneurs themselves also have a great responsibility. They have to take care of the broad welfare of their employees. Not only financially but also in terms of living standards. This means that besides making money, they also have to invest money. We all benefit from the sustainable returns that result."
Unique region
Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen occupies a unique place in the Netherlands, partly due to the strong representation of the semicon, energy and health sectors in the entire region. Lahuis: "This is where the solutions for today and tomorrow are realised. Everything revolves around a longer vital and sustainable life. These three sectors and our joint approach make the region truly unique." Thanks to that approach, Lifeport contributes to reducing nitrogen and CO2 emissions, among other things. "But also to more preventive efforts on health. And with the chip and data, we are able to accelerate transitions in healthcare and energy. This leads to examples that the rest of the Netherlands and Europe can adopt."
Ecosystem
Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen is in fact one big campus with several locations, consisting of the knowledge institutes and the various top companies in the fields of Health, High Tech and Energy, such as NXP, Alliander and TenneT. Lahuis: "And of course all the enabling larger and smaller companies around it. It's a big ecosystem, and to maintain such a system you have to ensure that the well-being of people and companies is optimal. So that everyone who wants that gets the space to grow and innovate."
Working with the future
The Arnhem-Nijmegen region is a place where a lot of innovation is taking place, and where people are showing guts to deal with the challenges of the future, says Marcouch. "Think for example of artificial intelligence (AI) that many people find difficult, dangerous or scary. We go into that precisely because otherwise you miss opportunities. We look at how to deal with this technology legally, morally and ethically, and then go about it."
Not self-evident
The collaboration between residents, public authorities, businesses and knowledge institutions that Lifeport Arnhem-Nijmegen Region promotes creates the society we envisage. Marcouch: “Such collaboration does not happen by itself. You have to invest in the relationships between government, education, the business community and people. That is what we are doing here, so that we can realise the full potential of our wonderful region. Because only together can we lead the way.”
*This article can also be read online at
Kijk op Arnhem-Nijmegen 3-2025 by OF BV – Issuu
