Municipality of Noordwijk will help strengthen knowledge axis

‘Today’s global and societal challenges are so great that we can only face them together. It is therefore logical that Key Region Leiden and Noordwijk have recently been working together more and more intensively to strengthen the knowledge economy in our rego,’ said Pim van Stien, alderman for Economy, Finance and Space in the municipality of Noordwijk. (Photo: Wendy Mensink)

Knowledge and innovation

‘We do this along the knowledge and innovation axis that runs from the Bio Science Park in Leiden, via Unmanned Valley in Katwijk to the NL Space Campus in Noordwijk. Three clusters with great economic impact and lots of growth potential. Through even more cooperation, synergy and innovative crossovers, we can maximize this potential. And that is good for the economy in Noordwijk, the entire Dune and Flowerbulb Region and the Leiden region’.

Security and prosperity

‘Noordwijk is aware of the unique contribution we make as a space municipality to social issues. With the Space cluster, consisting of ESA/ESTEC and the activity and research at the NL Space Campus, we are uniquely positioned. Space technology plays a crucial role in our daily lives: for navigation, communication, climate adaptation, and environmental and nitrogen policy. It is essential for our safety and prosperity’.

Sandwiches and jobs

‘The sector offers enormous opportunities for future-proof employment and earning power in the region, the province and the Netherlands. Sandwiches and jobs for our residents, opportunities for our entrepreneurs. That is why we are working hard to make the NL Space Campus the focal point of these developments. Together with the province, the state, Key Region Leiden, ESA, Economic Board Duin- en Bollenstreek, Holland Rijnland and all our partners, we are building the Space Campus into one of the most important European space hubs. A place where companies, researchers, students and pupils work together on the challenges of the future. Challenges that, given the geopolitical developments, will only get bigger’.

Key region

‘Space technology is therefore a spearhead of our economic cooperation. Together with the other partners of Key Region Leiden, in the coming years we will work towards one powerful knowledge region: a European key region, with strong clusters working together to find solutions to the major issues of our time. Noordwijk is looking forward to working together!