High Tech Campus Eindhoven and hardware accelerator Startupbootcamp HighTechXL, have just signed a major co-operation agreement in Beijing. The deal is with the China Technology and Venture Association, an independent private network active across China supervised by Ministry of Science and Technology of China, National Torch Center. The alliance involves more than 500 incubators and accelerators, VC firms, enterprise consultancies, IP advisors and leading accounting firms.
Guus Frericks, Co-Founder of Startupbootcamp HighTechXL explains the win-win strategy. “Whereas some Western European software startups dream of a future in Silicon Valley, many hardware startups are looking East instead. That’s because they realize they’ll need to build up a scalable supply chain in order for their product or service to go global. Those capabilities are very strong in China and growing exponentially. We started exploring possibilities late last year, taking high-potential participants of the first Startupbootcamp HightechXL program to China in first part of 2014.”
Hardware
“Our first moves in East Asia quickly triggered a strong interest from innovative hardware startups in China to participate in the successful program we’re running in Eindhoven. The Demo Days in Eindhoven are already attracting serious VC interest from China. I’m delighted this agreement expands the activities for both countries. Each party commits to use their respective resources to accelerate the search for the best disruptive hardware teams in the world. I believe that our combined networks are already opening doors which would otherwise be impossible from such a distance. And this agreement means building the next steps can happen so much faster.”
Incubators
Frans Schmetz, Managing Director of High Tech Campus Eindhoven, outlines the reason for an incubation strategy running simultaneously on two continents. “The Campus has frequent visits from various distinguished Chinese initiatives. They are rapidly building hardware incubators in several high-tech fields that we’re specialized and interested in. Our visitors have witnessed the success of the open collaborative approach pioneered in this region of the Netherlands. It makes for much faster prototyping, reduced investment risk and increases the chances of finding launching customers. Our involvement in Europe’s leading hardware accelerator based on the Campus has encouraged us to reach out to build new partnerships in Asia. This is an important next step.”
Alliances
“Professor Ton Backx, is Dean at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology. He joins us in Beijing, representing the strong support TU/e is giving to this important initiative. The University has seen an influx of Chinese students and has worked hard to establish active alliances with several leading Chinese Universities. It’s bearing fruit – evidence of the Triple Helix principle in action.”
Source: www.brainport.nl
