International innovators experience Brainport Eindhoven from the inside
More than fifty entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. One day in Brainport Eindhoven.
As part of Hello Tomorrow, Europe’s leading deeptech event, the Dutch Deep Tech Tour brought international participants to Eindhoven. In the space of a single day, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators from around the world experienced first-hand what the region has to offer. Brainport has developed into one of Europe’s leading deeptech ecosystems, where high-tech companies, knowledge institutions and specialised campuses work in close collaboration. It is precisely this combination that enables innovation to be rapidly advanced and scaled here.
Dutch Deep Tech Tour Brainport Eindhoven
The day began at Eindhoven University of Technology, where the strength of the region’s foundations quickly became evident. Daan de Cloe opened the programme, followed by contributions from Alfons Bruekers and Beaudine Moll, who provided context on the region, its collaborative approach, and how ideas are able to develop and grow here.
This narrative continued at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. At the AI Innovation Center, participants were given a series of concise pitches demonstrating how start-ups and scale-ups are built. High Tech Campus Eindhoven, HighTechXL, DeepTechXL and LUMO Labs illustrated how ideas evolve into companies here and what it takes to make that happen.
During lunch, the conversation continued, focusing on investment, collaboration, and the reasons why this region excels at scaling technology.
The tracks
In the afternoon, the group split into three tracks: MedTech, Semicon Scaling & Manufacturing, and Semicon Physical AI.
The MedTech track centred on applications in healthcare. Companies such as Salvia BioElectronics and Bambi Medical demonstrated how technology can have a direct impact on patients. At CUREON and the Philips Innovation Lab, participants saw how these innovations are tested and further developed.
The Semicon Scaling & Manufacturing track highlighted another part of the ecosystem, from start-ups such as TraceXon and SCIL Nanoimprint Solutions to the broader narrative at ASML. At LionVolt, the discussion continued, focusing not only on technology but also on growth and funding.
The third track, Semicon Physical AI, explored the next step: how AI is becoming increasingly integrated into chip development and manufacturing. Companies including Axelera AI and Neaxt brought this to life. At the Factory of the Future, participants saw how these technologies are ultimately translated into real-world applications.
I’ve visited many places around the world, but never a place like this. Brainport is home to a great university as well as a thriving manufacturing sector. The people here are very open. It’s all coming together here.
Jackrit Suthakorn, C0-Founder Nannil Intelligent Robotics
Where the day came together
At the end of the day, everything came together at the Brainport Industries Campus. It became clear what the group had experienced: not a collection of separate initiatives, but a fully connected system, from university to start-up and from lab to factory.
Huub Smulders brought this to life in his presentation on the campus and the Advanced Manufacturing District (AMD), an international hub for high-tech and deeptech manufacturing where all elements of the ecosystem converge in a single location.
During the closing drinks reception, conversations continued. New connections were made, fresh ideas emerged and, above all, participants gained a clearer understanding of what sets Brainport Eindhoven apart.
In the space of just one day, more than fifty international participants saw how this region operates, not as individual components but as a cohesive whole in which knowledge, entrepreneurship and industry reinforce one another.
