VDL Groep and Maastricht University intensify collaboration

Photo caption from left to right and from top to bottom: Miel Timmers (VDL), Pamela Habibović (UM), Rianne Letschert (UM), Ton Wijnen (VDL), Thomas Cleij (UM), Paul van Vuuren (VDL) and Nick Bos (UM).

From robotics for the agriculture of the future to further developing recycling techniques: VDL Groep and Maastricht University (UM) see ample opportunities to expand and intensify their collaboration in these and other areas. To underline this, both organizations signed a letter of intent on 20 December. VDL and UM aim to contribute to attracting and retaining talent in the region through their cooperation and to ensure that Limburg maintains sufficient ‘development and manufacturing activities’.

VDL Groep is a business conglomerate with over 100 companies that develop and manufacture industrial products in the fields of high-tech, mobility, energy, infratech, and foodtech. These areas of activity intersect with what is happening at the UM: education and research and creating societal impact, including in the fields of sustainability, biomedical materials, imaging, life sciences, data science, and social sciences.

With those interfaces, VDL and UM are already able to find each other nowadays. Researchers from the Faculty of Science and Engineering are exploring how they can support employees on the VDLNedcar production floor responsibly with artificial intelligence. And VDL contributes to the Einstein Telescope through the project Einstein Telescope Technologies (ETT), in which UM also participates. The company shares its expertise in ETT, particularly in the field of large steel structures with an ultra-high vacuum level and a high purity class.

The two organizations establish the basis for intensifying their collaboration through the memorandum of understanding. Program managers from both organizations will support new collaborations as matchmakers and facilitate introductions between relevant organizational units.

Nick Bos, member of the board at UM: “The manufacturing industry has a strong history in Limburg. If we can work together with VDL to combine that manufacturing activity with the scientific knowledge and innovative collaborations that have gained strength in Limburg over the past decades, including at the Brightlands campuses, then that will benefit all parties.”

Paul van Vuuren, executive vice president VDL Groep: “With the development and production of high-quality industrial products, we aim to make a difference for the world of tomorrow and thus ensure the future earning capacity of the Netherlands AND the region. To continuously feed the cycle of innovation and production, and thereby continue to offer added value, we pursue prosperity and well-being for future generations. In this context, this strength can be viewed through collaboration. We look forward to continuing the fruitful collaboration with Maastricht University”.