I amsterdam - Knowledge & Innovation

With two universities, two university hospitals, three colleges of higher education and many associated training institutes, the Amsterdam region is near the top of the list in Europe with respect to knowledge. The region is a melting-pot and breeding-ground for the international knowledge workforce. The open culture, the multilingual population and relatively favourable house prices - in combination with easy accessibility - means that Amsterdam has much to offer.

Amsterdam Region: European Hub
The Amsterdam region is also an outstanding European hub when it comes to international internet traffic. The construction of super-fast data networks such as Netherlight make the region very attractive for IT companies and institutions working with large data streams. Examples include the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI), the National Institute for Nuclear Physics and High Energy Physics (NIKHEF) and the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM).

Knowledge exchange is high on many people’s list of priorities; after all, in unity lies strength. This has led to the formation of various networks in the region such as the Club of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam New Media Association and the Metalectrocluster in Zaanstad.

The KennisKring Amsterdam forms an overarching knowledge network in the region. In the last ten years, the KennisKring has grown to be a distinguished platform, with more than 3500 knowledge partners. The network includes a wide variety of entrepreneurs, lecturers and researchers at knowledge and educational institutes (including of course the two universities and the three colleges of higher education), administrators and policy officials of regional and provincial government authorities and organizations such as the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce. What they have in common is natural curiosity and eagerness to learn more. Together, these partners endeavour to strengthen and make better use of the knowledge infrastructure which is already in place.

More than a Network
To promote the Amsterdam region's reputation as an eminent knowledge centre, a programme called Amsterdamse Innovatie Motor (AIM) has been started. The projects in this programme are intended to stimulate knowledge exchange and the creation of spin-offs for the universities and knowledge institutes in the areas of IT/new media, life sciences and sustainability. In 2004 a summer school started which is focused on the transfer of state-of-the-art knowledge in the area of new media (www.anmi.nl). For more information about the activities of AIM, contact: hans.westerhof@kenniskring.nl.

In 2005 ‘The Amsterdam Trade University’ will open. In the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam distinguished itself in the area of international trading with the Dutch East India Company (VOC). By combining different sorts of trading knowledge, transaction costs could be reduced, so that Amsterdam’s competitive powers could be used to the greatest advantage. This integrated approach will now be revived.

The formation of strong coalitions in these areas will promote prosperity and well-being.

For more information about the KennisKring see www.kenniskring.nl (in Dutch) or contact sven.simons@kenniskring.nl (Co-ordinator) or rik.bleeker@kenniskring.nl (Director).