On January 22 in Amsterdam, it was announced that the City of Eindhoven is in the process of acquiring an industrial park known as the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC-1). This campus, a hub for the region's tech manufacturing industry and utilized by the computer chip equipment giant ASML, is an important asset for the city. Alderman Stijn Steenbakkers emphasized the significance of this acquisition as a valuable opportunity in recognizing the benefits of governmental oversight of critical infrastructure.
The financial details of the purchase will remain undisclosed until the city's parliament ratifies the agreement, with a decision scheduled for February 25. Previously, the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, established by Philips Electronics, was sold to Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC for 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion) in 2021, leading to an investigation by the Economic Affairs ministry into potential measures to protect the technology developed there.
BIC-1 accommodates various ASML suppliers, technical schools, startup enterprises, and the software company Meta. The campus is currently owned by the British firm Capreon, which is expected to continue its management post-sale, according to city officials. With a vast expanse of a hundred thousand square meters encompassing buildings and surrounding areas in the northwestern region of Eindhoven, BIC-1 accommodates 2,500 employees and students.
Eindhoven, an emerging tech center, is preparing to establish additional Brainport campuses on nearby lands under its ownership. The first of these campuses, BIC-2, is slated to commence construction next year. Highlighting their commitment to the region, the national government announced a $2.7 billion investment around Eindhoven to retain ASML's presence in the Netherlands and prevent the company, headquartered in Veldhoven, from relocating significant operations abroad.