Eindhoven: Literally a city of lights

Provides perfect mix of innovation and development.

EINDHOVEN: Eindhoven’s development wheel was given a boost by the industrial revolution in the 19th century.

A dot on the map was soon to see population and economic growth that, years later, would transform it to a hub of innovation and industrial activity.

From textile to electronics, Eindhoven – a mid-sized city located in the southern region of the Netherlands – used developments as a springboard to attract companies and workforce. The city, now, has emerged as the capital of the Dutch industrial design. The development spur came with the rise of electronics giant Philips, founded as a light-bulb manufacturing company in Eindhoven in 1891. While most of Philips’ industries have moved out, the Philips Design Bureau is still in Eindhoven.



The city earned the tag of the world’s most intelligent community by the Intelligent Community Forum for 2011 and houses over 200,000 people, but the work of industrial and commercial units has made it prominently significant.

The city’s record in producing patents makes it the world’s most inventive city, according to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.

Here, the work of Philips, founded by Gerard Philips and his father, cannot be ignored. Philips introduced the audio Compact Audio Cassette tape in 1963, and the world’s first home video cassette recorder, in England. In 1982, Philips teamed with Sony to launch the Compact Disc

In 2013, Philips unveiled its new brand line “Innovation and You”, signifying the company’s evolution and emphasising on catering to the needs of the people.

The following year, Philips announced a plan to split the company into two, separating the lighting business from the healthcare and consumer lifestyle divisions, as it made its move towards focusing on innovative solutions.

Built and re-built post the World War II, the city has made a name for itself again and again. While would be inclined to believe that an industrial hub would compromise the environment, a visit would dismiss that impression. The structures and nature gel well together. In fact, there are several parks established by Philips.

Eindhoven is an example of an admirable blend of sustainable development with innovating being the driving force.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd,  2015.

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