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Limburg is one of the seven most innovative regions in the world. This was announced by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) this afternoon – Wednesday 17 June – during the Top7 Communities of 2026 conference taking place in Limburg. Every year, the ICF selects seven innovative regions that are in the running to be named the world’s smartest region of the year. The winner of the title ‘The Intelligent Community of the Year’ will be announced in Ohio in October.
The other six regions nominated for the title of ‘Smartest Region of the Year’ are: Assai (Paraná, Brazil), Bursa Metropolitan Municipality (Turkey), Hilliard (Ohio, USA), Kingston (Ontario, Canada), Las Rozas de Madrid (Spain), and Yunlin County (Taiwan).
A global example of the triple helix
The ICF (links to another website) (opens external website) recognises Brightlands Limburg for its four interconnected Brightlands campuses, which have created one of Europe’s leading innovation ecosystems. Together, they are driving breakthroughs in the circular economy, healthcare, artificial intelligence, smart services, future-proof agriculture and food. Brightlands Limburg sees the ICF as a global example of the triple helix in practice, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, businesses and government partners to translate innovation into economic growth and build a more sustainable future.
Proud of this achievement
Governor Emile Roemer is proud of this achievement: “Limburg is among the world’s best, in the Champions League of innovation and technology. Of course, we’ve known that ourselves for a long time, but I’m delighted that it’s now been made official. This selection means that we have a central role to play in tackling future challenges in our society. It’s a wonderful but also responsible task that Limburg is tackling with enthusiasm and delivering on. The world could do with a bit more Limburg.”
Limburg: an innovative frontrunner
Provincial Executive Member Stephan Satijn: “What a fantastic recognition that Limburg ranks among the top 7 most innovative regions in the world. Our thanks go to all the entrepreneurs, scientists, students and the many people of Limburg who are driving innovation in our region and taking it to the next level. This proves that our Brightlands Campuses and Limburg’s businesses and educational institutions are making their mark internationally. We are demonstrating our commitment to progress and our role as an innovative frontrunner on the international stage.”
International collaboration in innovation
Last year, the ICF already named Limburg one of the 21 smartest regions. The ICF is a global federation of over 200 cities and regions that support one another in using technology to achieve inclusive and widespread prosperity, with the aim of improving quality of life. As a member of the ICF, Limburg hopes to learn from the knowledge and experience of other regions around the world regarding how they organise innovation and development, and to apply these lessons in the further development of Limburg as a region of innovation.
Election of the ‘Smartest Region of the Year 2026’
To become a member, the ICF assessed Limburg against criteria such as proven innovative strength, knowledge development, digital infrastructure and the quality of collaborations within the regional ecosystem. On this basis, Brightlands Limburg was admitted to the international federation and selected for the global top 7. From this top 7, the ‘Smartest Region of the Year 2026’ will ultimately be chosen in October in Ohio. To date, Brainport Eindhoven is the only region in the Netherlands to have won this title. That was in 2011.
First ICF conference in Limburg
This week saw the first ICF conference in Limburg, with the theme: Circular living – building sustainable communities through innovation and local impact. At various venues – including the Brightlands Campuses and the MECC – participants explored what circularity actually means for citizens, employees, businesses and institutions, and how it will shape our view of living, working and life in general. The event also featured presentations on innovative initiatives and projects from Limburg, including Brightland Circular Space, CHILL, Stadslabs Sittard-Geleen, the Einstein Telescope and dozens of Limburg-based start-ups.