Knowledge centre for promoting the socio-economic resilience of Limburg
In several regions of the Netherlands, the population is no longer growing, including in Limburg. Moreover, the composition of the population in these regions is changing dramatically: fewer young people, a shrinking working-age population, and more older residents. These shifts bring about fundamental changes in economic dynamics, the labour market, public administration, and the way society redefines itself. These developments call for a new and innovative approach.
Ideas factory and platform
The objective of Neimed is to make a structural and connecting contribution to the societal and scientific debate on socio-economic issues related to the changing composition of the Limburg population. Neimed carries out activities in the areas of education, research, valorisation, and dissemination:
- Neimed as a knowledge institute: Bundling existing knowledge, information, and experience, as well as developing new knowledge and insights based on research
- Neimed as a disseminator: Spreading existing and new knowledge
- Neimed as an ideas factory: Formulating new scenarios for approaches and interventions
- Neimed as a network and platform: Promoting the societal debate on the quality of shrinking societies
Research │ Chairs & Research Groups │ Knowledge Transfer & Valorisation
Neimed works from the context and perspective of a resilient Limburg that builds on opportunities and possibilities, given its unique context, background, and history. Working on the socio-economic resilience of Limburg.
Neimed participates in various programmes and projects, including the chairs ‘Demographic Transition, Human Capital and Employment’ and ‘Employability in the Context of an Innovative and Learning Region’, the research groups ‘Employability’ and ‘Social Integration’, the National Network for Broad Prosperity, and through substantive contributions to projects such as Regiodeal Parkstad, Regiodeal Noord-Limburg, Gebrookerbos, Stadslab Heerlen, the Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross-border cooperation and Mobility (ITEM), and the national Scientific Reflection Group on Population Decline.
Neimed has several programme lines: Social Integration & Innovation; Regional Labour Market & Employability; Border-lowering cooperation. At present, the programme line Social Entrepreneurship is also being further developed.
Neimed Board
The board of Neimed consists of representatives from the three Limburg knowledge institutions: Open University, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, and Maastricht University.
- Prof. dr. Gerard Mertens (Chair), Open University
- Drs. Dries Lodewijks, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
- Prof. dr. Hildegard Schneider, Maastricht University
Neimed Programme Council
The programme council of Neimed is composed of various stakeholders from science, education, local government (municipalities), and regional government (Parkstad Limburg Urban Region and Province of Limburg). The members of the programme council contribute their perspectives and expertise from different angles to shape Neimed’s direction and research focus, enabling it to make an optimal contribution to regional development.
- Prof. dr. Gerard Mertens (Chair), Open University
- Drs. Martin de Beer, Municipality of Heerlen
- Drs. Peter Bertholet, Parkstad Limburg Urban Region
- Pieter Custers, Brightlands Smart Services Campus
- Drs. Charles Claessens, Neimed Programme Council
- Prof. dr. Frank Cörvers, Maastricht University
- Prof. dr. ir. Joop de Kraker, Maastricht University, Open University
- Drs. Laury van den Ham, Province of Limburg
- Drs. Karin Straus, General Association of School Leaders
