Energy & the environment
The Arnhem Nijmegen Cool Region is very committed to innovation and technology, hence with energy, the environment and sustainability. In this respect, the region is in the vanguard.
Sustainable industrial estates
More and more industrial estates are being organised or modernized as high-quality and sustainable areas. The available space is being used more carefully by dividing it more effectively into lots, by constructing buildings differently (with several storeys), by using the lots more intensively (high-rise buildings) and by parking vehicles more densely.
A good model of an industrial estate is Winkelsteeg in Nijmegen. The estate, measures 95 hectares and accommodates companies like NXP and Lincoln Smitweld. It already enjoys international importance. Cool Region wants to step up Winkelsteeg’s position and to achieve this they have started the construction of FiftyTwoDegrees, an international research and development centre for semiconductors. With the modern name of ‘Novio-techcampus’ the industrial intends to accommodate another sixty technology-oriented businesses.
Another sustainable industrial estate is Koningspleijn in Arnhem. The estate measures about 90 hectares. Half the area is to be newly developed and allocated while the other half is taken up by existing economic activities, including energy company NUON Helianthos and wood preservation company Titan Wood. Other products leaving Koningspleijn’s premises are produced by companies in the energy and environment-related sectors. Read more about Koningspleijn at High Tech locations.
Clever greenhouse farming
The knowledge-intensive horticulture chain of greenhouse farming Greenport is located around the villages of Huissen and Bemmel to the southeast of Arnhem. Not only the products but also the knowledge are exported. Exchange of knowledge about issues such as upgrading techniques will lead to higher production. Greenport closely fits in with the developments in Food Valley in university town Wageningen.
Greenport works according to a sustainable and environment friendly method: the water for spraying the plants is centrally collected, and there is a network for residual heat. The surrounding landscape and the need for recreation are taken into account when the acreage under glass is extended.
Environmentally aware until it reaches the user
The municipalities in Arnhem Nijmegen Cool Region pursue a modern environmental policy. Nijmegen, for instance, compiled a list with ten action points. Nijmegen wants to generate sun and wind energy, construct low-energy buildings and use clean fuels. Arnhem has had low-energy trolley buses for ages.
Teaming up: New Triangle
Arnhem Nijmegen Cool Region is also part of the New Triangle, a collaboration with the universities of Nijmegen, Wageningen and Enschede and with the business community. New Triangle is instrumental in putting many new ideas on the market and is an important economic spearhead for the east of the Netherlands, and therefore for Cool Region.
First and foremost innovation: Stichting KiEMT
The energy and environmental technology sectors in Cool Region are united in Stichting KiEMT. This project aims to reinforce the innovative force of the sector and to promote the establishment of new knowledge-intensive enterprises.
It was originally an Arnhem project. From old, the city on the River Rhine has been the junction of ‘electric Netherlands’ and has many companies specialised in energy and environmental technology within its region.
Stichting KiEMT has meanwhile stretched its wings to Nijmegen and Apeldoorn. The project now covers the entire region between these three cities. It has created a broad knowledge cluster of companies, institutions, and authorities.
