Illuminating innovation
Hilde de Vocht has deep roots in Brabant, a Southern province in the Netherlands. She has always lived and worked in the province that is known for the Brainport Eindhoven region, the birthplace of Philips. Hilde worked at Philips Lighting for 5 years before joining the team at High Tech Campus Eindhoven (HTCE). The Campus was originally founded by Philips to consolidate its national R&D activities. “It was like an internal move, when I went from Philips Lightning to HTCE”.
Bring yourself, Hilde will do the same
Hilde de Vocht is Director Ecosystem Management and Co-Founder Fe+male Tech Heroes at High Tech Campus Eindhoven.
Hilde de Vocht
A thriving ecosystem
High Tech Campus Eindhoven is one of several in the Brainport Eindhoven region and has become a research and development hotspot for knowledge institutes, start-ups, high-tech & multinational companies. Hilde plays a crucial role in shaping the Campus's identity and impact as the head of ecosystem management. “The Campus is more than just a physical space," she explains. "It's a dynamic ecosystem where ideas flourish and collaboration thrives."
The smartest square kilometre
High Tech Campus Eindhoven is Europe's smartest square km. “We are literally 1 km² in size where approximately 300 companies come together to create an exciting environment of innovation”. Over 10,000 innovators, researchers & engineers are working together on a wide range of technologies for the products of tomorrow. In addition to Phillips, companies like NXP, ASML and Signify plus small and medium-sized high-tech companies, research institutes, service providers and startups collaborate here.
The Campus is a dynamic ecosystem where ideas flourish and collaboration thrives.
Tech & Soccer
One of Hilde's proudest achievements is the establishment of Fe+male Tech Heroes, an initiative aimed at bridging the gender gap in the tech industry. "We're empowering women to pursue careers in technology and providing them with the support they need to succeed," she explains. "It's about creating an inclusive and equitable future for all. Plus, we are a proud sponsor of the PSV women’s soccer team!”
Collaborative Campus
The Campus atmosphere of openness produces considerable interaction between researchers with different technical disciplines. The setting is meant to bring people together, to share and learn from each other. The Campus is designed for everyone to meet formally and informally, while eating or exercising, or at one the many events we have on Campus.”
This is very beneficial if you’re organizing a meeting in the Conference Centre, everything is connected and close. “Being the smartest square kilometre it’s easy to get keynote speakers, all they have to do is cross the street from one of the many companies here!”.
Beyond traditional meeting spaces, the Campus offers diverse experiences, from nature walks with biologists to visiting demo labs showcasing advancement in technology or innovation hubs around artificial intelligence. These are just a few examples that can be part of a complete meeting experience.
Embracing heritage
As Hilde describes it, “When you enter the Campus you enter a different world, kind of a small town within a city.” The Campus integrates the new and old with historic buildings carrying the legacy of past generations who once worked at Philips. Hilde is proud of the area’s heritage, “We have a willingness to work together, to aim for the same goal and to make this region stronger. I think that's really special.”