Buck Consultants International report 'Added Value of Campuses' 2024: 22,000 new jobs at 20 mature and growing campuses

The 20 top campuses in the Netherlands have provided a significant boost to the economy over the past 6.5 years. They created 22,000 new jobs across 3,000 companies. Thirteen of these 20 campuses are considered mature campuses, including Campus Groningen. These top campuses are characterized not only by job creation but also by physical locations for innovation, according to the report by Buck Consultants International (BCI), published on Wednesday, December 4. At Campus Groningen, this development is reflected in concrete figures, including a 37% growth in 6.5 years (from 198 to 271 companies). There are also positive figures in the spin-off and start-up sector. The number of spin-offs and start-ups at Campus Groningen grew from 95 to 112, an increase of 18%. Looking at overall employment (companies and knowledge institutions), Campus Groningen ranks in the top three, alongside Utrecht Science Park and Leiden Bio Science Park.

Edward van der Meer, Director of Campus Groningen, states: "The growth of Campus Groningen is the result of strong collaboration between knowledge, entrepreneurship, and education, both within the city and the region. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the interplay between knowledge institutions, educational facilities, and innovative companies acts as a catalyst for growth and innovation. Together, we create synergy that has an impact not only on the northern region but also nationally and internationally."

Attractive Location for Businesses

As also highlighted in the recent BCI report, these campuses with their ecosystems attract start-ups and support their development into scale-ups. In this way, the campuses act as magnets and breeding grounds for talent, capital, and companies.

Campus Groningen is not only an attractive incubator for spin-offs from knowledge institutions, such as Symeres (formerly Syncom), but it also attracts external companies that want to experience the added value of the entire campus ecosystem. Moreover, the Campus serves as an important testing ground for new companies with innovative concepts, which can then grow in the region.

BioBTX

A good example of a company that has taken advantage of these opportunities is BioBTX. The company started its test facility at Campus Groningen and has since raised more than 80 million euros for the construction of its first plant, the PETRA Circular Chemicals Plant in Delfzijl. This investment allows BioBTX to scale its innovative technology that converts plastic waste streams into aromatics, key building blocks for the chemical industry. The new plant will be able to process 20,000 tons of plastic waste annually.

Further Strengthening in the Region

The knowledge and experience gained by Campus Groningen in fostering economic growth is also being used this year to connect, strengthen, and develop campuses in the city and the surrounding region. Through the Campus Masterplan, the new Campus Coalition is working on the further development and strengthening of the knowledge and innovation ecosystem in the province of Groningen and North Drenthe.

Want to read more? Download the BCI report below (in Dutch).

Source press release: Campus Groningen
Header Photo: Droninger