The municipalities of Eindhoven and Dresden have signed an agreement to facilitate research projects in the field of high tech electronics.
The agreement is a so-called Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), making it easier to set up research projects in the field of micro- and nano-electronics and semiconductors. The regions have maintained close ties through the project Silicon Europe, recently included in the Silicon Europe Alliance. Both cities have ambitions in the field of smart cities and societies. The industry of micro and nanoelectronics has a strong presence in both regions. The German headquarters of ASML is in Dresden.
Opportunities
According to Mayor Van Gijzel companies need to faster and more actively respond to the opportunities and developments in micro- and nanoelectronics: stay ahead in technology, continue to be innovative and thus maintain their competitive position in the value chain. “Micro- and Nanoelectronics are essential for the future prosperity of our cities and regions. This technology is an important carrier for smart city, smart society and smart industry. I think it is in the cities that major social issues will be resolved, because they are in front row when developments like the Internet of Things are concerned.”
Silicon Saxony
Intensifying cooperation is also important for “Silicon Saxony” (as the Dresden region calls itself), says Mayor Frank Bösenberg: “It is important to join forces as cluster organizations, with whom we come in contact as Silicon Saxony. Moreover, we see that there is relatively little trade between the Netherlands and Germany in technology. We want to improve that. In particular, the Brainport region has a lot of potential in this.”
The Brainport region and Dresden are frontrunners in this area, with large companies like ASML, NXP, Sioux and VDL. The MoU lays a basis for enhanced cooperation between these companies. The agreement will be implemented by the Dutch and German industry associations High Tech NL and Cool Silicon / Silicon Saxony.
The signing of the MoU is part of a visit by a delegation from Dresden to Eindhoven. Smart city projects in Strijp-S, the 3D concrete printer at TU/e and the Holst Centre on the High Tech Campus were visited by the Dresden delegation.
The collaboration fits nicely in with Eindhoven’s wish to strengthen economic cooperation between Eindhoven and Germany. The Brainport International Programme devotes extra attention this year to Germany. Moreover, Van Gijzel called for a high speed train line between his city and Dusseldorf.
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