BrainPort

Brainport is a European technology region centered on the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands, known for its dense concentration of high-tech companies, research institutions, and collaborative networks. The term refers both to the geographic area comprising Eindhoven and surrounding municipalities in North Brabant and to the organized effort to foster innovation, manufacturing, and economic growth through public-private partnerships.

The Brainport ecosystem combines industry, academia, and government to create a favorable environment for research, development, and entrepreneurship. The High Tech Campus Eindhoven serves as a focal point for corporate and academic laboratories, while the region’s universities and technical institutes—most notably the Eindhoven University of Technology—provide a steady supply of skilled graduates and advanced research. Major multinational companies and numerous startups operate alongside mid-sized engineering firms, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, robotics, health tech, and information technology.

Historically, the region grew from a strong industrial base established in the mid-20th century, with Philips and related electronics activities playing a central role. The Brainport concept gained prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s as a coordinated strategy to maintain international competitiveness through open innovation, talent development, and infrastructure investment.

Economically, Brainport emphasizes R&D intensity, export-oriented manufacturing, and cross-sector collaboration. Its governance involves a public-private network that aligns regional development plans with national innovation policy. The Brainport model is cited in discussions of European smart specialization and is regarded as one of Europe’s leading technology clusters, continually focusing on how to scale ideas from lab to market.