NXP letting down the drawbridge

Says Johan Kluitmans, Senior Director Site Strategy, Site Innovation & Technology Manager for NXP Semiconductors. His company attaches particular importance to the development of Novio Tech Campus, he explains.

First of all, it is currently very difficult to find highly qualified technical personnel. Secondly, there have always been plans to do ‘something’ with the somewhat grey Winkelsteeg industrial estate. Lastly, yet very important, NXP is committed to Nijmegen. What better way than by cross-fertilisation with other innovative companies?

“A lot of people believe we are only a microchip plant”, says Kluitmans. “But NXP is so much more. Yes, we have those plants and they are important. But here in Nijmegen we also invest a lot in product development; we now devote almost 40 per cent of our time to this.”

No wonder NXP wants to surround itself with other innovative companies, be they large or small, because sharing technological expertise requires each others’ physical presence. This ‘open innovative model’ benefits all parties, in Kluitman’s opinion. “We are not afraid of competition. You must do what you are good at and contract out the rest.”

He lists what NXP has to offer to future ‘residents’ of Novio Tech Campus. “Building M will be renovated. It has a high floor load capacity, which may be of interest to pharmaceutical companies with fume cupboards. There is a huge goods lift and there are compressed air tubes. Furthermore, we have our own supply of electricity, which provides us with operational certainty, and we can pump mega Watts into the building.”

In the longer term, a couple of buildings will be demolished and replaced by new buildings. Eventually, we will have a wonderful state-of-the-art industrial estate surrounded by houses and recreational facilities. “It will be a pleasant place to be. It is in our own interest to offer such a pleasant environment to our employees. Our labour force consists of sixty nationalities with various levels of education and training. Easy access, the proximity of an international school and a sophisticated living environment are all important factors for NXP.”