High-tech company VDL ETG: PSI’s new neighbour
Villigen, 14.02.2023 - The Dutch high-tech company VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG) and its subsidiaries such as VDL ETG Switzerland AG are banking on closer cooperation with research institutions. On 9 February 2023 VDL signed a rental agreement with Park Innovaare, a business innovation hub next to the PSI campus in Villigen Switzerland. VDL ETG has already been working with PSI for many years, and this step now makes it an official member of Park Innovaare’s innovation ecosystem.
The latest high-tech developments require close cooperation between the areas of research, development, and manufacturing. The Dutch high-tech company VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG) is intending to build a long-term strategic partnership with the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. A decisive move in this direction has been the company renting premises at Park Innovaare, the innovation ecosystem right next to the PSI campus. Park Innovaare facilitates collaboration between innovative companies, as well as with PSI. By signing the rental agreement, VDL ETG becomes an official Park Innovaare member company.
Both its Swiss subsidiary and its globally operating engineering company will expand their cooperations. VDL ETG intends to allocate a number of projects offering synergy with the strengths of both Park Innovaare and PSI. Park Innovaare could become one of the key locations of VDL ETG Technology and Development. VDL ETG company already has over 500 engineers working globally.
Long-standing partnership with PSI
PSI and VDL ETG have been cooperating for the past 10 years and understand the benefits of pooling know-how. “We are delighted VDL ETG has decided to settle in Park Innovaare,” says John Millard, head of Technology Transfer at PSI. “Located on the same campus alongside so many PSI researchers and technical staff allows a deeper and more direct exchange of ideas.” VDL ETG has already benefited in the past from the opportunity to combine industrial know-how with PSI’s technological expertise. This process can now move up a gear.
“Partnerships with research institutions are essential in rapidly growing technology markets,” says Geert Jakobs, CEO of VDL ETG. The company supports its customers in creating a differentiated offering. “To realise this, we invest in the relevant networks and technologies.” Jakobs goes on to say that PSI has in-depth knowledge of topics that are critical for the future technology needs of the semiconductor equipment industry.
This is why PSI offers access to its large-scale research facilities – particularly the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL – not only for fundamental research, but also for experiments by industrial partners. “The measurements at these large-scale facilities help us and our customers understand critical processes which are applicable in our high-tech industry. This in turn allows us to tackle future challenges together with our customers through significant improvements and innovations,” John Piggen, Managing Director, VDL ETG Switzerland explains. “Park Innovaare works closely with PSI specialists, helping to bridge the gap between science and commercial products.”
“We welcome VDL ETG’s decision to settle in Park Innovaare, as technology transfer benefits both industrial companies and research institutes,” says Dr Benno Rechsteiner, CEO Park Innovaare. “The benefits include a more extensive innovation network and the expansion of technological skills that can help companies gain a competitive edge.”
15,000 employees worldwide
VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG) is a tier-one design and contract manufacturing partner with global operations. Its customers are original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies that have a leading role in high-tech manufacturing equipment and users of advanced production lines.
VDL ETG Switzerland AG is a contract manufacturing and assembly partner that offers its customers modules, subsystems and integrated systems. The Swiss subsidiary has a very broad portfolio and a wide range of competencies, mainly related to the high-tech vacuum technology industry.
VDL ETGs parent company, VDL Groep, headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, is an international industrial family business with more than 100 operating companies, spread throughout 19 countries, with over 15,000 employees. The activities of the VDL companies can be summarised in the “five worlds of VDL”: Science Technology & Health, Mobility, Energy & Sustainability, Infratech and Foodtech.
Text: Park Innovaare/Daniela Muthreich and Paul Scherrer Institute
About PSI
The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute's own key research priorities are in the fields of matter and materials, energy and environment and human health. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether PSI employs 2200 people, thus being the largest research institute in Switzerland. The annual budget amounts to approximately CHF 400 million. PSI is part of the ETH Domain, with the other members being the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, as well as Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research).Address for enquiries
Dr. Mirjam van Daalen
Head of Communications
Paul Scherrer Institute
CH-5232 Villigen PSI
Phone: +41 56 310 56 74
mirjam.vandaalen@psi.ch
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