The University of Twente’s Executive Board has appointed Dr Kees Eijkel Director Strategic Business Development as of September 1, 2016. In this function, he will strongly stimulate valorization and the cooperation with industry. As the director of Kennispark Twente from the start, in 2006, Eijkel gained ample experience with entrepreneurship and stimulating startups. In his new role he will also focus on new connections between UT research and large companies.
Victor van der Chijs, President of the University, strongly welcomes the appointment of Kees Eijkel: “To strengthen our position in international consortia of academia and business, we have to find smart matches between our research and the grand challenges of today’s society. Think of the transformation towards ‘Industry 4.0’, think of the developments in the health sector. Our Strategic Business Development integrates our research with the activities of startups as well as the large players in industry. Kees Eijkel is a true stimulator for boosting this integration.”
Integration
UT wants to strengthen its connections with large companies, in combination with its known track record in valorization and startups. This will undoubtedly also stimulate the regional cooperation within Kennispark Twente: this successful combination already led to the election ‘most entrepreneurial university of The Netherlands’ and ‘best business park in The Netherlands’. The startups generated thousands of jobs. “Further growth of these young companies will be one of my concerns”, Eijkel says. “Startups have an important role as ‘satellites’ around both our scientific research and the large companies.”
Builder
Before Eijkel became director of Kennispark, in 2006, he was technical-commercial director of UT’s renowned MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, from the start as well. “I like to build and develop. I now get the opportunity of combining my previous experience in one new role at the university. We see many opportunities for both the UT and the Twente region. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the university’s external connections.” He will be the successor of Miriam Luizink, who was appointed director of Roessingh Research & Development, earlier this year. In his new role, Eijkel will stay responsible of UT’s Innovation Lab as well.
