Eindhoven and economy

Eindhoven was a small provincial town until the Philips brothers set up a company in the late nineteenth century. This was the start of a spectacular development in a large number of fields. The light bulb, invented in Eindhoven, was produced by Philips. The company went on to manufacture radios and televisions, electric shavers, medical equipment and various other products that took the world by storm, such as the audio tape, the CD and the DVD. Other Philips products are CT and MRI scanners. Until this day, 40 cents out of every euro invested in Research & Development in Holland are spent in the Eindhoven region. This is also the area in which the majority of patents are registered, and the second most healthy local economy of Holland. Welcome in Holland’s Brainport!

The Dutch government has officially recognized the South-eastern part of Holland, with Brainport Eindhoven as its hub, as Holland’s second economy. Brainport Eindhoven is the heart of one of Europe’s highest ranking Elite Technology regions, and works together closely with Belgium (Leuven) and Germany (Aachen), also known as the ELAT Triangle.

With Philips as its historical anchor, Eindhoven has developed into an attractive city for entrepreneurs to establish their businesses. Technology companies, such as ASML, DAF Trucks, FEI Company, DSM, Organon and Stork, are based in the region, as are several international research and knowledge institutes, such as TNO and Holst Centre. Turning innovation into competitiveness in a global market requires cooperation. For Brainport Eindhoven the ‘Open Innovation Ecosystem’ - pre-competitive cooperation in open innovation - is a leading principle in achieving its goal to remain competitive: creating the industries of the future.

A quarter of the jobs in Eindhoven are linked directly to technology. In addition to focusing on technology, knowledge and creative industries, Eindhoven also works hard on the quality of life in the city, including first-rate facilities in education, culture, recreation and accommodation, which provide a dynamic, pleasant and safe living environment.