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From January 1, 2024 Walter Pijls CEO of Brightlands Smart Services Campus

Brightlands Campus Heerlen

Walter Pijls is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen. He succeeded Astrid Boeijen, who transferred to the Brightlands Chemelot Campus on July 1, 2023. In his new role as CEO of the Brightlands campus in Heerlen, Pijls' responsibilities will include the continued expansion of the campus in the national and international arena. 

Founded in 2016, the Brightlands Smart Services Campus is an initiative of the Province of Limburg, APG, Maastricht University and the Open University, with strategic partner roles set aside for the Municipality of Heerlen Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. The Brightlands Smart Services Campus is part of Brightlands, an open innovation community in Limburg made up of over 29,000 innovative entrepreneurs, researchers and students. At the four campuses located throughout Limburg, they work on breakthroughs in sustainability, health and digitalization every day.

Human-centered artificial intelligence and data science

Data science, human-centered AI and the development of new smart digital services are the central themes at Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen. The campus brings together companies, educational institutions, government and students and is a breeding ground for new activity, talent development and innovations. There are currently 55 companies and institutions and a total of 128 partners affiliated with the campus.

Future

In his new role, Pijls aims to contribute to the future of Limburg: “My ambition is to make the Brightlands Smart Services Campus a campus of international interest in human-centered artificial intelligence and digitalization. This unique focus enables us to position Limburg as the place to be in this field in Europe. I am really looking forward to working with the team and all partners to meet this amazing challenge.”

Source: Brightlands newsletter

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