University of Applied Sciences Leiden

Joeri van den Steenhoven, member of the Executive Board of Leiden University of Applied Sciences and treasurer of Key Region Leiden.

“Through Key Region Leiden, we are working together to create a stronger regional economy, for example by encouraging young entrepreneurship in innovative SMEs. To this end, among other things, we have established the Inventeers Academy. Here, our students from Hogeschool Leiden work on innovation projects commissioned by the regional business community. In this way, their education is directly linked to the needs of companies where they will later come to work. Theory and practice come together in joint research. Regional companies come into contact with new knowledge and young talent. A nice win-win situation.

The cooperation ensures a strong regional profile.

In order for our students to be well matched to the needs of the labor market, we must be in good contact with the field of work. With our building we are already physically in the middle of the Bio Science Park, among the companies.

Key Region Leiden offers us the contacts with the business community and governments in the region, because we sit at the table together. As a result, we know how to find each other quickly.

In this way, we are building together a stronger regional profile and an attractive living and working environment. Thus, together, each from his or her role, we can attract, train and retain talent for the economy of the future.”