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Portrait Anna Dushyna
© Merel Tuk
Bring yourself

Limburg’s gateway to innovation

Bringing together ideas, communities, and change

Brightlands Chemelot Campus is Europe's first circular hub for innovation in chemistry, sustainable materials, and biomedical solutions. Conveniently located near the Belgian and German borders, the campus—close to Maastricht—is a dynamic collaboration between academia, industry, and government. In her role as Business Development Manager with the Maastricht Convention Bureau, Anna attracts international scientific conferences to Limburg, with a focus on circular chemistry and sustainable materials. “It’s not just about the venue,” she explains. “It’s about connecting the right people—scientists, associations, and innovators—to create real impact.”

Bring your­self, Anna will do the same

Portrait Anna Dushyna Brightlands Chemelot Campus
© Merel Tuk

Anna works as a Business Development Manager for the Maastricht Convention Bureau, specializing in chemistry, new materials, and circularity. Her work is tightly interwoven with one of the region’s most cutting-edge innovation hubs: Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen.

Anna’s New Chapter in Maastricht

Originally from Ukraine, Anna made the move to the Netherlands after the war forced her to leave her home. One of her Dutch colleagues extended a helping hand, and with encouragement from friends and family, Anna settled in Maastricht. “At first I said no, I’ll stay,” she recalls, “but the war didn’t stop. Eventually, I came—with friends—and started to explore life in the Netherlands.” In 2023, she landed her dream job as Business Development Manager for the Maastricht Convention Bureau, where she now works closely with Brightlands Chemelot Campus.

“The Brightlands Chemelot Campus uses a triple helix model,” Anna explains, “which means that university researchers, major corporations and government work in one area. The fusion of knowledge and industry accelerates innovation and creates real business opportunities.” Anna is especially inspired by a collaboration with local Paralympic champion Mitch Valize, helping him win his cycling road race by just one second thanks to custom 3D-printed grips developed by Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs (CHILL). “It was designed using a print of his hands,” Anna says. “He says that grip made all the difference.”

Portrait Anna Dushyna in a meeting
© Merel Tuk

“Brightlands Chemelot is about making life better—more sustainable, more innovative, and more human.”
Anna Dushyna

Cross-Border Innovation, Up Close 

Portrait Anna Dushyna Brightlands reception
© Merel Tuk

Thanks to Maastricht’s location near the Belgian and German borders, Anna can tap into a rich cross-border network of knowledge institutes, bringing in expertise from places like Aachen and Liège. Through the Maastricht Convention Bureau, she supports organizers with everything from PR and marketing to logistics and technical services. “We make sure everything is in place for a successful event.” At the Campus, delegates don’t just attend—they experience. They visit labs, engage with startups, and witness sustainability in action. “This kind of hands-on access makes events truly unforgettable.”

Anna sees Brightlands Chemelot Campus is playing a vital role in shaping a more sustainable future. “From recycling new types of plastics to developing medical tools with 3D printing, the work being done there is changing lives,” she says. One recent project in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defence is developing mobile 3D-printed casts. “Imagine being in a war zone or emergency and breaking your arm. Normally, you’d need to go to a hospital and see a doctor. Now, they’re working on a solution where you can apply a cast yourself in just minutes.”

From Castles to Conferences

Professionally, Anna thrives on building connections across industries and countries. Personally, she finds Maastricht equally enriching. “It’s the freedom,” she says. “You can drive to Belgium or Germany without a second thought. “It’s truly living in the place where history was written,” she adds, referencing the Maastricht Treaty that established the European Union in 1993. “And let’s not forget the food—it’s delicious.” Among her favourite places to visit is Château Neercanne, a historic castle straddling the Belgian border. “You enter in the Netherlands and walk into Belgium through the back garden,” she laughs.

As for her own impact, Anna is determined to continue raising the profile of Limburg—not just Maastricht, but the entire region—as a top exchange destination for European and international knowledge. In particular for the fields of chemistry, sustainable materials, health, food and data science. “We want conferences that are not just well-organized but are enriched by the innovation and expertise that exists here. It’s a way forward, how we can all grow, together.”

View on terrace Chateau Neercanne in Maastricht
© Etienne van Sloun
Portrait Anna Dushyna
© Merel Tuk