Midpoint Brabant is the regional development organization of entrepreneurs, education, governments and social parties in Central Brabant. MindLabs is the knowledge and innovation hub for artificial intelligence and human behavior. Both operate from the Spoorzone, the heart of the innovation district in Tilburg. Midpoint Brabant is based in Gebouw88, but by the end of 2021 MindLabs will move into a brand new building next to the LocHal.
The agreement was inaugurated on Thursday, April 8, by Bas Kapitein (director Midpoint Brabant), Loet Visschers (director MindLabs), Fred van der Westerlaken (president MindLabs and Onderwijsgroep Tilburg, and member of the general board Midpoint Brabant) and Berend de Vries (member of the general board Midpoint Brabant and alderman for economics of the municipality of Tilburg).
Improving society
Bas Kapitein explains the context of the collaboration: "MindLabs plays an important role in the further development of Midden-Brabant as a top region for SMEs. We both focus on improving society. We do this with an entrepreneurial and experimental approach in which people are central. We test innovations and put them into practice. Central to this are our social tasks: digitization, circular economy, energy transition and talent development. We focus on the sectors where we excel in our region: manufacturing, logistics, leisure and knowledge-intensive (digital) services. By intensifying our cooperation, we can give our programs in Central Brabant and beyond extra strength."
Smart technologies
MindLabs was founded in April 2019 by Tilburg University, Fontys, ROC Tilburg, the municipality of Tilburg and the province of North Brabant. Loet Visschers: "With new technologies we bring social issues close to society. We do this with virtual & augmented reality, serious gaming, robotics & avatars and language technology. Our 'smart' focus areas connect seamlessly. Midpoint Brabant, together with various partners, has realized the Regio Deal Midden- en West-Brabant, including five innovation projects for MindLabs. In the new Midpoint Brabant initiative Smart MKB, we are working closely together to support regional SMEs in data-driven digitization."
Knowledge
"With key technologies in artificial intelligence, we can work together with the other regions of Brabant to accelerate the major transition tasks of the province, the national government and Europe," says Fred van der Westerlaken on the importance of the collaboration. He continues: "The partnership between Midpoint Brabant and MindLabs is also a flywheel for the knowledge axis of Hart van Brabant, the zone from the university campus to the Spoorzone. This is connected to regional innovation hubs, such as the smart industry hub Gate2, House of Logistics, House of Leisure, Station88 and the circular Up New centers to be developed. In the joint projects we naturally also use our strength in education and research: Tilburg University with fundamental research, Fontys and BUas with applied research and Onderwijsgroep Tilburg with practical education."
Innovation District
"The collaboration between Midpoint Brabant and MindLabs is of great importance for accelerating the digitalization of the Central Brabant economy," concludes Berend de Vries. "This will also give the innovation district Spoorzone an extra impulse, as the heart of the strongly booming digital sector. This is one of the spearheads of the regional economic development strategy of Midpoint Brabant and the Next Economy policy of the municipality of Tilburg. Startups are an important factor in this. MindLabs' incubator Startup Kitchen attracts new companies that work with artificial intelligence and data mining. They can make use of the expertise and guidance that Midpoint Brabant, together with its partner Braventure, offers startups."