Campus Community Fund invests in Campus Groningen for impact on tomorrow's world

Campus Community Fund invests in Campus Groningen for impact on tomorrow's world

Investing together in one ecosystem to make even more impact. "That's why a Campus Community Fund is important," agreed Wiebe Draijer, Chairman Group Executive Board Rabobankanken Mayor Koen Schuiling of Groningen. On September 1, they jointly launched the Campus Community Fund in Het Forum. The platform for funding acts as a flywheel to convert the knowledge and expertise available at Campus Groningen, and in the region, even more effectively into important innovations. The strategy has been shaped by Campus Groningen and its stakeholders, Rabobank Stad en Midden Groningen and companies on Campus. An investment strategy of approximately 500 million has been laid down in the Campus Community Fund (CCF) for the growth of innovations and economic activities.

"The ambitions of and for Campus Groningen are great. The Campus' five-year strategic plan is geared toward significant developments. With the Campus Community Fund, we will jointly furnish the 'capital for tomorrow'" indicates Henk Snapper (Board of Directors, UMCG). Dina Boonstra (General Director NOM), Peter Scheij (Director of Businesses Rabobank Stad en Midden Groningen) and Edward van der Meer (Director Campus Groningen) today committed themselves as the first implementing partners . Discussions are already underway regarding collaboration with several partners.

"The chosen direction to invest in the entire ecosystem fits seamlessly with Rabobank City and Central Groningen's cooperative mission. For us, our social and commercial objectives come together perfectly here," Peter Scheij, Director of Business at Rabobank Stad and Midden Groningen, said of the collaboration within the Campus Community Fund. Dina Boonstra, Director NV NOM, underlines "investing together to convert the knowledge and expertise present even more effectively into important innovations with impact for the Northern Netherlands."

Campus Community Fund invests in Campus Groningen for impact on tomorrow's world

Drivers for Growth for economic growth

The investment strategy of the CCF expects strong developments within the five regional core sectors of agri-food, energy, health, chemistry and digital economy, in order to invest in real estate and infrastructure, facilities and services, and business activities on Campus Groningen. Projects from those core sectors and with the characteristics of combined strength in collaboration, cross-fertilization, economic and social impact, (inter)national character and physical campus development are seen as the 'Drivers for Growth,' to which the CCF serves as a funding platform. "Proud that together we want to excel and further develop our fast-growing Campus. This development of Campus Groningen is an interplay. We don't look at the individual elements, we look at the whole. That's what we believe in," said Edward van der Meer, director of Campus Groningen.

Thinking Bigger, and Doing

The Groningen ecosystem is also enthusiastic about the shared direction chosen in the Campus Community Fund. "The belief, mentality and confidence is there. The companies on Campus Groningen are proud to be part of this. The Campus Community Fund is going to help us think, and act, even bigger," explained Ton Vries, Managing Director MercachemSyncom and Campus resident.

Launching Campus Community Fund

The Campus Community Fund launch took place with stakeholders at the Forum. Watch the recap of the launch below.

View the Campus Community Fund plan
View the website of Campus Groningen

Source: Campus Groningen
Source photos: Geert Job Sevink