Commissioned by UM and various other parties, the report identifies significant economic opportunities in three areas in particular: health, technology and the Einstein Telescope. According to the report, the Brightlands Health Campus in Randwyck could accommodate six “innovation spaces” focused on these three key themes. These hubs would bring together researchers, students and businesses to work on practical solutions to social challenges, such as early disease detection.
“At the moment, a lot of scientific knowledge isn’t being used to its full potential, even though knowledge valorisation is a core function of the university. We want to expand our role in the region”, UM strategic policy adviser Lincey Bastings explained to members of the Maastricht Municipal Council during an information session on the future of the campus last week. The university also hopes the creation of new jobs will encourage graduates to stay in the Maastricht area.
The greatest potential lies with UM’s three Randwyck-based faculties: Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Science and Engineering (FSE) and Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN). “But we also want to involve the city-centre faculties – for example, to explore legal issues related to our three key themes.” Plans are yet to take concrete shape; it remains to be seen whether all six innovation spaces will be realised, or where they would be located. “We first need to present the idea to the various university bodies, including the University Council.”
More pleasant place
The ambitions tie in with a broader vision shared by UM, the municipality, the province, the MUMC+ hospital and MECC Maastricht to make the campus more attractive to entrepreneurs and both national and international talent, thereby boosting Zuid-Limburg’s knowledge economy in the face of population decline. Last year, they introduced plans for a greener, more vibrant campus – “a more pleasant place to live and work”. Over the coming years, grey car parks are set to make way for green spaces, cafés and restaurants, housing for students and expats, and “a new iconic building” that will serve as the beating heart of the area. The plans also include more laboratories and facilities to help start-ups grow into fully fledged businesses.
A feasibility study conducted last year examined whether the plans are economically viable – can the campus set itself apart from others across the Netherlands? – and physically feasible – can Randwyck accommodate all this? According to the report, the answer to the first question is yes. As for the second question, a “master plan” has been drawn up, said Wouter Hankel, programme manager at the municipality of Maastricht. Due to nitrogen limits and grid strain, the construction of new buildings is still some way off; “the first phase” will instead focus on making better use of existing infrastructure, such as MECC Maastricht and currently vacant buildings.
Train station renamed
To make the area greener, the municipality hopes to put out a tender after the summer to expand the “Groene Loper” green area development project (from Kennedysingel via Gaetano Martinolaan to at least the main entrance of MUMC+). There are also plans for a green corridor connecting the area to the banks of the River Meuse. In addition, solutions are being sought to reduce near-daily traffic congestion at the A2 motorway exit. And to mark Randwyck’s transformation, the local train station will soon be renamed “Maastricht Brightlands”.