116 million euros for Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus

Four partners in Maastricht want to grow the Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus over the next ten years. The municipality of Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht UMC+ and the Province of Limburg are putting together more than 116 million euros towards this. The city executive board (college van burgemeester en wethouders) will present the plan to the city council (gemeenteraad) in November.

What is happening?

The campus should become an internationally strong place for knowledge, research and new businesses. The money goes to two parts. The first part is the Innovation Spaces project. The four partners invest 22.6 million euros together, each contributing 5.656 million euros, spread over five years. The goal is to connect companies from outside the campus with researchers, students and entrepreneurs already working there. The project starts with three themes: medical imaging and diagnostics, medical implants and cell therapy, and technology linked to the Einstein Telescope.

The second part is the development of the area itself. This costs around 94 million euros over ten years. The municipality pays 33.6 million euros of that. Streets and squares will become greener and redesigned, street-level parking will be reduced, and the Groene Loper (a green pedestrian route) will be extended. The campus will also become easier to reach via the A2 motorway exit and the Oeslingerbaan road.

The plans follow from a 2025 advisory report on the future of the campus. That report outlined an investment of around 650 million euros over ten years. The partners are now starting with a first phase covering the parts that are already worked out in detail.

What does this mean for you?

The investment mainly affects jobs and the development of the city.

• The goal is to create 250 to 300 new jobs through the Innovation Spaces within five years.
• Residents and visitors near the campus will see greener streets, redesigned squares and less street-level parking.
• Access to the campus will improve through changes to the A2 motorway exit and the Oeslingerbaan road.
• The city council still needs to approve the funding before the plans can go ahead.

Good to know

An information session about the proposal takes place on 29 October. On 3 November, the city council discusses the proposal in a committee meeting (domeinvergadering). The council makes a decision on 24 November. More details are in the press release from the municipality of Maastricht.