READY FOR TWENTE
WHY TWENTE?
There’s nothing illogical about finding a top-flight career in Twente. With its many leading international companies and well-known institutions, you’ll be spoilt for choice. And they are actively looking for ambitious and talented people who will help their organization to further improve their prospects. These are companies that will welcome you as a member of the team and greatly value your contribution.
It goes without saying that Twente is a great region in which to live, work and play – but are you up to it?
TWENTE – A VIBRANT REGION Twente offers everything you’ve set your heart on, but without the stress that often accompanies life in the urbanized west of the country. Here there is a better work/life balance and everything is close at hand. Whilst served by an excellent network of air, motorway and rail systems in every direction, the region also provides a vast range of leisure activities and boasts a lively café culture and a diverse restaurant scene. There is a wealth of choice when it comes to sports, entertainment and nightlife. Twente offers a unique blend of culture and architecture, with the brand-new Poppodium in Hengelo and the prestigious Muziekkwartier in Enschede being just a couple of inspirational examples. But we all need time to refresh and recharge and, however you like to relax, there’s something for every taste. The great outdoors is on your doorstep, with woods, parks, heath lands and nature reserves for you to explore. Here you can get away from it all. Or maybe you’d prefer just to rest your weary limbs at one of the many bustling pavement cafes in surrounding towns and villages. CULTURE Those who live in Twente will need no introduction to the wealth of entertainment available in the region - at most a guide to what’s on. When it comes to culture, there is a myriad of possibilities and we are working all-out on our brand-new Pop and Cultural Arena in Hengelo and in Enschede our newly-opened National Muziekkwartier provides a home for all kinds of events from rock concerts to opera, theatre and dance. The International Jazz Festival in Enschede annually attracts thousands of visitors. Twente is also the birthplace of stand-up comedian Herman Finkers, who has created many outrageously funny shows. And last but not least, the region is the home of world-famous Grolsch beer, which is brewed in Enschede and is the preferred tipple of many locals. SPORT Twente is a sports-loving region! If you’re fond of sports, either actively involved or simply as an armchair sports fan, Twente is sure to satisfy you. The region is home to the professional football teams of Heracles Almelo and FC Twente, which play in the Dutch Premier League. FC Twente recently became the Champions of Holland for the season 2009/2010! The Hellendoorn car rally attracts over a hundred thousand spectators each year, and in 2007 Enschede was proclaimed Sports City of the Year. The region boasts hundreds of clubs offering almost every conceivable sport, from rowing, skating, tennis, football, athletics, horse-riding, mountain biking, indoor climbing, darts, judo to go-carting. These are just a few of the vast array of sports that will jostle for your attention in the region. TRANSPORT The infrastructure and public transport network have always enjoyed high priority in the region. Our motorways provide easy access to other parts of the country and also form the gateway to Germany. Moreover, rail links provide excellent, regular connections to destinations throughout Europe. The international train to Moscow stops in both Hengelo and Oldenzaal. Or if you’re not traveling so far afield, you could take the train to Germany for a weekend or just for a day trip to nearby Bad Bentheim, or to Münster, Oberhausen or Cologne. The Dutch are fervent cyclists, so you may be sure that there is an extensive network of cycle paths throughout the region. This provides excellent opportunities to enjoy the surrounding countryside at your leisure And just an hour’s drive away is the airport of Münster-Osnabrück, where you can check in, have a coffee and fly off to Helsinki, Venice, London or Athens. This is an ideal alternative to overcrowded Schiphol Airport, particularly if you prefer to take your car to the airport. Parking rates and flights are often considerably cheaper and check-in times shorter. LEISURE There’s a time to work and a time to relax. Of course, you can always curl up on the sofa with a good book, but there’s so much more on offer in the region. Enschede is the place to be if it’s culture you’re looking for; it’s easy-going, retains a familiar, accessible atmosphere and is bursting with new ideas. The Twentse Welle is an interactive cultural centre, which houses museums, studios and workshops, a theatre and an observatory. It is built on the site of a huge firework explosion that destroyed an entire residential area in the year 2000 One unmissable event is the Enschede International Jazz Festival, with unique indoor and outdoor performances throughout the Whitsun weekend. When the sun goes down, Twente gets its second wind. Couple a region that loves to party with a large student population and you’re guaranteed great nightlife. The region boasts something for everyone from intimate hole-in-the-wall bars, to cosy clubs and restaurants. For the theatre-lover there are shows and performances every night of the week. But in addition to cafes, bars, theatre shows and cabaret, there’s also a great club scene. Markelo boasts two clubs, Bill’s Bar and Dieka, which draw in crowds of clubbers from both inside the region and far beyond. They often host famous DJs and bands. The festival season kicks off in the period April to May, including Dauwpop and Bosrock, which attract not only very popular Dutch artists like Ilse de Lange, Opgezwolle and DJ Tiësto, but also famous international artists such as Alanis Morissette, Milow and Saybia. If your tastes run to somewhat edgier music, then head for Atak in Enschede. This large pop venue behind Enschede’s central station regularly features popular Dutch alternative bands like Aux Raus, De Jeugd van Tengenwoordig and Roosbeef. CUISINE
It’s easy to find fabulous and affordable food in Twente. To celebrate your new job you can enjoy a gourmet meal at two-Michelin-star restaurant de Wanne, nestling in the beautiful rolling countryside around Ootmarsum. And whatever your tastes or budget, you will find many cosy, attractive eateries, where you can relax and enjoy fine food with friends and family.
For the true foodies, there is more exotic fare, ranging from Norwegian wild salmon to ostrich steak, while many restaurants promote local produce such as asparagus and game in season. And if you feel the urge for ‘Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut’, you can jump in the car and be in Germany in next to no time.
More information about education, leisure time, recreation, living en welfare in Twente is available on http://www.twente.nl/
IN TWENTE WE PUT INNOVATION TO WORK
Twente – the seedbed for young, innovative companies Start, grow and develop in Twente – the most natural thing in the world.
Making the future possible – this has been Twente’s main focus of attention since 2005, when companies, government, education and research institutions joined forces to concentrate on achieving this objective. This has resulted in a joint strategy for Twente to enhance performance through innovation. To this end, a variety of projects were initiated, the majority of which are now up and running. All the players involved are fired by the ambition to put Twente on the map, both nationally and internationally. And you too can play a part in this. Together The first step towards this goal was the establishment of the Innovation Platform Twente in 2004. All the major players in the region, drawn from companies, government, education and research institutions, were brought together, and these are the four parties that now work in partnership on all innovative projects. Although this approach may seem obvious, it is not always a matter of course for scientists to work with the business sector and government on developing the regional economy. This line of action is unique in the Netherlands. Approach Arie Kraaijeveld, Chair of the Innovation Platform Twente (IPT), explains why the moment has come to put Twente on the map: “After a thorough analysis, it was decided to opt for the approach that epitomizes Twente’s strength. It illustrates perfectly the mentality of the region: ‘to get on with the job in hand’. Collaboration has led to many unexpected contacts, which are being turned to advantage to provide further innovations and to boost employment. And this is not restricted to just a few isolated incidents but across the board all parties are fully engaged on achieving significant breakthroughs in fields that show promise. Strength The focus is on five key areas as well as a number of supporting projects. These areas are promising fields in the region, which display sufficient activity and growth potential. The key areas are: · Food science
· Materials & Hi-Tech Systems
· Technology & Safety
· Construction
· Health & Technology
In Mr Kraaijeveld’s own words, “What is essential here is to make choices on which we direct our focus. We then ensure that the cluster generates greater activity through cooperation, thus achieving advantages of scale. Twente’s strength lies in its small and medium-size businesses, which are renowned for their economic and industrial activity and know-how. The IPT seeks to bring all the parties together, to lead to new initiatives and to accelerate the rate of development. And the effects of these investments will eventually become apparent to the public at large in the region.”
Projects
Projects have been conceived within all five key areas. These undertakings are very specific and have clear goals. Here are a couple of examples:
Food science is an area that combines the scientific knowledge of nanotechnology available within the University of Twente with the challenges faced by companies in the food industry. Grolsch, Johma, Bolletje and Zwanenberg are just a few well-known companies that are collaborating on this project, which addresses issues like combating obesity and improving food through the addition of healthy ingredients.
When it comes to Construction, Saxion Hogescholen (a college of higher professional education) has assumed a pioneering role to make knowledge and development in this sector widely accessible to the construction industry in Twente. Major construction companies which have their roots in Twente include Volker Wessels, Plegt vos and Trebbe. In this pioneering project, knowledge is shared with many small companies so that they can continue to work with the latest cutting-edge technologies.
Technology & Safety are the concern of a new knowledge institute, ISETI, which has the task of ensuring that issues such as public safety are high on the European agenda. Companies involved in this include Thales and TXchange, which are studying for instance the numerous checks conducted at airports and are attempting to find intelligent solutions to enhance travel.
Health & Technology links numerous parties that are actively engaged in healthcare. Medisch Spectrum Twente, ‘t Roessingh, IZI and the University of Twente are just a few of the institutions conducting extensive research in this field. One interesting area of research relates to the simulation of surgical operations by means of a ‘virtual patient’.
Connecting all these different key areas is Materials & High Tech Systems. Twente has a wealth of companies in this field. Ten Cate is fully engaged on developing state-of-the-art materials like synthetic turf and ultra-light yet strong composites. Companies such as Demcon are working on high-tech mechatronic systems and products for Thales and ASML. Materia (the Centre for New Materials) is an organization with in-depth knowledge of new and innovative materials from all over the world.
‘Powered by Twente’
Twente has potential. A major conference was held here on nanotechnology on 11 & 12 June 2009. During the ‘Powered by Twente’ Innovation Festival, education and research institutions, government and companies introduced themselves to a variety of interested parties. This conference, which has drawn many speakers from all over the world and authorities in the field of nanotechnology, was literally and figuratively a source of inspiration ‘powered by Twente’.
Future
“And there’s a lot waiting to happen. The Province of Overijssel, just like the region of Twente, has ensured that sufficient resources will be available from regional government for the Innovation Route in the years ahead. Regional education and research institutions and companies together will double this amount. This is unique in the Netherlands and this project owes its success to the government, which played a prominent role. The IPT now faces the challenge of persuading The Hague and Brussels to double this amount.” However, they are also working on the development of new projects, as new initiatives continue to come to the fore.
Mr. Kraaijeveld believes that “Twente not only can do it but Twente is doing it – through its own efforts and at a cracking pace. This is a source of great pride and we mustn’t be modest about it. This is something we want the world to know. When we look back five years from now and see that the regional economy has succeeded in developing, I will be satisfied. But we first have to pull out all the stops and for this we need everyone’s help.