Campuses crucial – give them priority on power grid

Key Region Leiden calls on the Authority Consumer & Market (ACM) to give knowledge and innovation campuses a structural place in the allocation of scarce grid capacity. In an official response to the draft decision on priority for community projects, the region stressed how important campuses are to national security, health and strategic autonomy. Read the full response here.

Unique innovation environments

Campuses are not ordinary business locations. They are unique innovation environments where knowledge institutions, companies and governments collaborate intensively on solutions to the great challenges of our time – from fighting pandemics to defense technology. In the Leiden region, this is happening at:

• Leiden Bio Science Park, which plays a unique role in the production of vaccines, drugs and biotech innovations, and where crucial knowledge surrounding infectious diseases and pandemics comes together.
• NL Space Campus, working on satellite data, space technology and applications for civil and defense security, with direct linkage to strategic autonomy.
• Unmanned Valley, a testing and innovation center for drones, unmanned systems, sensorics and autonomous technologies with applications in national security, border control and disaster response.

Without reliable power, these ecosystems cannot fulfill their societal function. The effects of grid congestion are already being felt: new labs and facilities cannot be connected, companies are considering departure, and urgent innovations are being delayed.

Separate category needed

Key Region Leiden therefore argues for a separate category within the ACM decision: knowledge and innovation campuses. Social projects within recognized campuses that contribute to safety, health and technology development should be given priority for grid connections.

“In a world where strategic autonomy is increasingly important, it is crucial that the Netherlands protect and strengthen its knowledge and innovation base. For this, campuses are indispensable – and they cannot do without power,” the regional partners said.

Read the full response here.