Municipality of Heerlen, Parkstad Urban Region and UM invest 6 million in collaboration

The Regio Deal application – submitted by Maastricht University – requested a total amount of €2,956,100. The application was approved by the Parkstad Urban Region on the condition that an equal amount is provided through co-financing. Both the municipality and Maastricht University will each contribute half of this amount. The total funding will enable the initial development of the essential facilities for the university’s presence in Heerlen.

Accellerator

Heerlen and Maastricht University have also signed a declaration of intent, expressing their commitment to working together for at least ten years. In the coming period, the plans for this partnership will be further developed. Councillor for education, Jordy Clemens, stated: "With this contribution, we are laying the groundwork to bring full-time university education to our city. Education and research attract talent and highly skilled professionals while fostering innovation. The presence of Maastricht University will make our city more attractive for both living and working, acting as an additional catalyst for other positive developments in Heerlen."

Sustainable presence

The shared ambition is to firmly and permanently establish Maastricht University in Heerlen, contributing to the development of the Parkstad region. Rianne Letschert, President of Maastricht University, stated: “We choose to focus our research and education in areas where opportunities emerge. The DNA of Parkstad is rooted in pioneering, perseverance, and reinvention. Values that strongly resonate with us and offer numerous opportunities for aligning our activities. While budget cuts from The Hague present a significant challenge, we remain fully committed to contributing to a region where national and international talent collaborates to drive prosperity and well-being.”

Broad Support in Parkstad

Martin de Beer, Chair of the Economic & Tourism Committee of the Parkstad Limburg Urban Region (and councillor for economic affairs in Heerlen), adds: “The arrival of Maastricht University is a pivotal step in the region’s transformation under the new future vision, ‘Parkstad biedt ruimte!’. Maastricht University helps retain talent in the region, creates jobs and vibrancy, and, alongside Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, the Open University, Vista College, and RWTH Aachen, strengthens the foundation for the knowledge economy in Parkstad and South Limburg.”

PWC-report: investing in education yields significant returns

This step forward perfectly aligns with the recently published report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, commissioned by the Municipality of Heerlen, Maastricht University, and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. The research confirms that investing in education yields significant returns, as an increase in students and highly educated professionals positively impacts regional prosperity. As a result, the three parties have reaffirmed their commitment to developing and further strengthening Heerlen as an academic city.

Download the PWC report (in Dutch)