Who we are and what we want to achieve
Radboud University has been a defining factor in Nijmegen and its surroundings for a century; it forms the beating heart of an innovative and powerful regional cooperation network. Trust in knowledge and science is the foundation of this network, and we want to further strengthen this trust by being an accessible partner for scientific knowledge in the region and a supplier of talent. We take this responsibility across the board: whether it concerns collaboration on chip technology, healthcare, the energy transition, first-generation students, or projects with schools on democracy and populism or social inequality. In this collaborative network, we explicitly take on the role of ethical compass and contribute our independent, academic perspective – both when requested and when we deem it necessary.
We want to further consolidate and deepen our numerous collaborations in the coming years, so that we can work together in a more targeted manner and expand our network. We link education and research to globally relevant issues, and also include the region in this – from Gelderland and Overijssel to parts of Brabant, Utrecht, Limburg and the German border area. Together with companies, knowledge institutions, governments, social organisations and residents, we strengthen regional ecosystems that stimulate economic vitality, social cohesion and sustainable innovation. The campus plays a central role in this as a vibrant place where education, research, entrepreneurship and innovation come together. We also promote lifelong development in collaboration with other knowledge institutions in the region. In this way, we strengthen our role as a catalyst for sustainable growth and social impact, with independent knowledge development as our starting point.
Our goal: We will continue to grow into the most reliable knowledge partner in the region and beyond, working together on social issues, always bringing our critical perspective to the table. We encourage lifelong development and strengthen the interaction between education, research and the regional labour market. We also stimulate innovation and activity on campus, and we increase confidence in science by being visible, accessible and involved in our environment.
What is needed to achieve this
Sustainable impact and greater cooperation
Our partners in the energy and health sectors, regional authorities and other organisations keep us focused and contribute new ideas and initiatives. Together with them, we select areas of social concern, such as poverty reduction, resilience, the development of the semiconductor sector, health and the energy transition, where we want to make a regional impact. For each theme, we forge structural alliances that contribute knowledge, resources and commitment, which we develop into sustainable public-private partnerships. We bring our independent, critical perspective to the table, ensuring that choices are rooted in scientific integrity and careful ethical considerations. These partnerships are primarily intended to address regional social issues, such as making sustainable energy accessible or promoting health prevention. At the same time, companies and institutions become more competitive by collaborating with our university knowledge community – an interaction that benefits both parties.
Start-up culture on campus
We are strengthening the start-up culture on campus to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship and new talent. We are translating research results into practice more often by offering knowledge-driven start-ups financial, organisational and substantive support. In doing so, we are promoting valorisation and increasing the social and economic impact of our research.
Founders receive guidance in fundraising, coaching and network development. In addition, they can establish themselves at the Science Park, where they can make use of university facilities, such as the possibility of setting up their own lab. In this way, the Science Park is developing into a breeding ground for new companies that emerge from our knowledge and research projects. In this ecosystem, researchers, students and entrepreneurs work together on innovations that can grow into fully-fledged companies at larger locations, such as the Noviotech Campus.
Lifelong learning
We want to offer secondary school pupils in our region the opportunity to become acquainted with scientific fields of study at an early stage, in order to ease their transition to university. That is why we are working with educational partners to strengthen the regional education chain from primary to higher education. We are also working more closely with Arnhem Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences (HAN) and the local ROC to promote progression, for example by making it easier to transfer between institutions in the first months of a course.
In addition, we are expanding our range of Education for Professionals, in line with the human capital agreement of the Economic Board for the Arnhem-Nijmegen region. This enables working people to continue to develop and increase their employability, and allows us to utilise untapped labour potential; our regular curriculum and customised education are better aligned with the current learning needs of working people and alumni. This requires intensive collaboration with knowledge institutions, employers and local authorities. For example, we are working with Alliander on customised programmes in which professionals learn to apply the latest AI techniques in their work.
Strengthening trust
All these initiatives contribute to greater trust in science and in Radboud University as an institution. However, we want to further increase our visibility and involvement. We are expanding citizen science projects to actively involve residents in research and innovation, making science more accessible and relevant to a wider audience. Together with Radboudumc, we are developing regional living labs for preventive healthcare, mental resilience and sustainable innovations in healthcare. Through our presence at the Noviotech Campus and at events such as the Four Days Marches and local hubs, we are visible, accessible and meaningful to more people in our community.