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HAS and Maastricht University strengthen collaboration in North Limburg

Additional boost for education, research and innovation in agri, food and the living environment

Today, Maastricht University (UM) and HAS green academy signed an agreement to strengthen their collaboration in the North Limburg region. With this step, both institutions are giving an additional boost to the further development of a strong knowledge and innovation ecosystem centred around Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo. By joining forces, HAS and UM will be better equipped to address current challenges in the agri-food sector, horticulture and the living environment.

At the heart of the collaboration is the combination of each institution’s strengths. HAS contributes practice-oriented education and applied research. In doing so, HAS responds directly to the needs of the horticulture and agri-food sectors, for example in relation to sustainable production, innovation and a healthy living environment. UM complements this with fundamental research and academic depth. By connecting these qualities, knowledge and practice are brought closer together and reinforce one another.

Patrick Cramers, member of the Executive Board of HAS green academy, said: “With this step, we are giving an additional boost to the further development of HAS in the North Limburg region. By joining forces and connecting our networks, we are building together with partners towards a stronger whole that truly makes an impact in the region.”

More opportunities for students and the region

Students will have more opportunities to develop flexibly through joint programmes and continuous learning pathways. In multidisciplinary learning environments, they will work together with companies, public authorities and social organisations on concrete regional challenges.

“Through this collaboration, we can connect academic knowledge to practice more quickly. On the Brightlands campus, we are literally bringing students, scientists and businesses closer together for that purpose. In the Venlo region, the second-largest horticultural area in the Netherlands, HAS is an indispensable knowledge partner for us,” said Jan-Tjitte Meindersma, vice-president of the Executive Board of Maastricht University.

The collaboration aligns with regional ambitions such as the North Limburg Regional Deal, ‘The Healthiest Region’. HAS contributes to this by linking practice-oriented education and research to issues concerning health, the living environment and sustainable food production. The university of applied sciences works closely with small and medium-sized enterprises and is known in Limburg, among other things, for practice-oriented soil research and sustainable cultivation systems.

Collaborating on research and innovation

In the field of research, HAS and UM will intensify their cooperation through joint research programmes and learning communities. This will make use of facilities at Brightlands, such as high-tech labs and practical environments where innovations are being developed, for example in robotics and smart cultivation systems. Researchers, students and companies will work together on solutions for themes such as the food transition, sustainability and digitalisation. In this way, knowledge can be translated more quickly into practical applications.

A stronger region

The collaboration is an important building block in the continued development of HAS in North Limburg. By connecting networks and bringing together knowledge, education and practice, a stronger and more visible whole will emerge. With the signing of this agreement, HAS and UM express their ambition to further develop North Limburg into a leading region within the green domain, where talent, knowledge and innovation come together.

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