Today, October 11, the municipality is taking a big step towards the Mechatronics Innovation Campus Schiedam (MICS). in the ‘s-Gravenlandse polder to realise. Together with the companies Metrohm Applikon BV and SDK Vastgoed, the first new campus building is being constructed on the plot of land of the old Motoport. The goal of MICS is to create more work and study opportunities in Schiedam.
MICS must become an ‘oasis’ in Schiedam where students, companies and government can collaborate and innovate with each other. According to Alderman Laan, the MICS will function as an ecosystem for the mechatronics industry. Mechatronics is the construction of machines and products that involves electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.
Ideal location
The location of the new campus is the perfect place, according to SDK team manager Niels Langenhuizen. “Apart from the fact that there is already a lot of activity in the mechatronics sector, the accessibility in Schiedam is top. There is an Intercity station on the corner, a metro and a highway exit. There is a lot of opportunity to further grow and develop the companies and this sector.” According to Niels, there is also a lot of technical talent in the region that can make use of this.
The new Metrohm business premises will be built on the Jan van Riebeeckweg where the old Motoport building stood. Construction of the building is expected to start in 2024. Several courses have been active in the MICS since the end of 2021, including Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences with the ‘Living Lab’ and the ‘ECP’.