Victor van der Chijs

Within one year after his installation, Victor van der Chijs designed a more focused strategy for the future of the university together with students, staff, alumni and external stakeholders. Known as Vision 2020, the University’s current strategic direction aims to find innovative solutions for major societal issues. Van der Chijs’ appointment has contributed strongly to the international profile of the University, with growing numbers in influx of students and researchers. In 2017, Van der Chijs was re-appointed for his second term. Late 2018, the organisation started the strategy formation process entitled Shaping2030, meaning to result in Vision 2020's successor by December 2019 [1].

Under Van der Chijs’ leadership, the University of Twente has strengthened its entrepreneurial profile. With over 900 start-ups and spin-off companies, the University of Twente is one of the most entrepreneurial universities in Europe and voted most successful Dutch university in the category knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship. In 2017, the University of Twente was chosen as university with the highest societal impact. In the same year, students chose Twente as Best University of Technology 2018 and second best university of the Netherlands. In keeping with its innovative spirit, the university is committed to maximizing its economic and social contribution to society. In 2016, Van der Chijs also linked Twente to the University Innovation Fellows programme (UIF) of Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school). This programme empowers students to become agents of change at their home institution, advocating for lasting institutional change and creating opportunities for students to engage with innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking and creativity. In 2017, Van der Chijs launched a Strategic Business Development unit, which aims to stimulate knowledge transfer and fosters cooperation between the University of Twente and the (regional and non-regional) business community.

In March 2018, the University of Twente and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam announced a joint engineering and technology programme based in Amsterdam as per September 2019. By offering an Amsterdam-based Bachelor’s programme in engineering and technology, Twente and VU, a university of technology and a comprehensive university respectively, aim to increase the nation’s total number of engineering graduates capable of tackling the key issues that face society.

Early 2018, Van der Chijs headed a task force installed by 3 of the Dutch economic ‘top sectors’ Creative Industries, Energy and ICT. The task force published recommendations on broadening societal acceptance of measures connected to the foreseen energy transition in The Netherlands . This advice was later included in the National Climate Agreement (Klimaatakkoord).

Van der Chijs has been instrumental in attracting renowned research centers to the university campus. In January 2017, the Fraunhofer Project Center for Design and Production Engineering was opened on site. The Center’s objective is to meet the pressing demands of smart industry related to design and production engineering in complex high-tech systems. 2017 also marked the official opening of the Max Planck – University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics. With these two additions, the University has strengthened its position as knowledge hub between Germany and the Netherlands.

Van der Chijs is also President of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). This international consortium consists of 12 research intensive universities with collective emphasis on innovation, creativity, and societal impact. Its members share a strong commitment to driving regional development, internationalization, and entrepreneurship. Van der Chijs focuses on strengthening the public profile of educational innovation, the link between research and business, and entrepreneurial cooperation. Prior to his appointment in April 2017, Van der Chijs acted as Vice President (2016) and Board Member (2013-2016). In July 2019, the European Commission granted the ECIU 5 million euros for a three-year pilot project during which the ECIU universities will pioneer challenge-based instead of degree-based education on a European scale.

In 2014, Van der Chijs and Minister of Education Jet Bussemaker officially opened the DesignLab, which includes the Classroom of the Future. The DesignLab is a creative and cross-disciplinary ecosystem connecting science and society through design. It aims to change the design process and promotes a novel approach to multidisciplinary research and cooperation with business.

Victor van der Chijs (born in Ede, Netherlands, 1960) is a Dutch entrepreneur. Since October 1, 2013 he is the President of the Executive Board of the University of Twente, the highest managing body of this university of technology. He holds various supervisory and advisory positions. Van der Chijs has advised the government of the Netherlands in a range of areas such as international trade, innovation, and creative industries.

Before starting in Twente in 2013, Victor van der Chijs was Managing Director and Partner of OMA, a leading global creative firm offering services in the field of architecture, design and creative advisory. Inspired by its roots in architecture, OMA and its research counterpart AMO offer services in the field of design in its broadest form resulting in buildings, masterplans, cultural advisory, identity studies, branding, exhibitions, sceneography and publications. The firm, founded by Rem Koolhaas, sustains offices in Rotterdam, New York, Beijing, Hong Kong and Doha with projects in over 35 countries worldwide.

Van der Chijs’ particular specialty is turning creativity into commercially viable propositions. Van der Chijs joined OMA in 2005 as Managing Partner. Next to the day-to-day responsibility for OMA's operations, he was responsible for business development and expanding and diversifying OMA's activities. Since 2005 until Van der Chijs' departure, OMA and its think-tank AMO tripled in size while maintaining strict creative standards and fostering a vibrant and energetic culture. On 19 March 2013, Van der Chijs announced his forthcoming departure as Managing Director and concluded his responsibilities at OMA end of June 2013.

In order to realise this, a number of instruments were established, including CLICKNL, a public-private partnership that spurs innovation in creative SME's by connecting those to scientific research; and innovation vouchers which set out arrangements and financial agreements between businesses, scientists and the government to facilitate short-term research projects. Furthermore, the Dutch Creative Council (DCC) was created, of which Van der Chijs held the position of chairman until end of 2013. The Council coordinates the implementation of the action plan, and advises businesses, scientists and the government on measures to address challenges in the sector, and on actions to consolidate the international position of Dutch creative industries to become the most creative economy of Europe by 2020.

From 2011 until 2013, Van der Chijs, appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, headed a 'top team' charged with exploring ways of stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship for the creative industries in the Netherlands. The key objective of the project, called To the Top – Towards a New Enterprise Policy (in Dutch: Topsectorenbeleid), was to give entrepreneurs more scope for their activities and enable them to grow. The Top Team generated an extensive report and action plan outlining which measures would enable creative companies to become more competitive, and to find solutions to major societal challenges by achieving 'cross-overs' with other industries, science institutes and governments.

In 2007, Victor van der Chijs accepted for OMA the Jan Huygen van Linschoten Award, the business excellence award granted by of Dutch bank ABN AMRO. The award honors innovative international practice and excellent financial management, and reflected OMA's successful entrance and maintenance in emerging markets such as China, and amongst others, the Middle East.

Before joining OMA, Van der Chijs held various senior management positions at Schiphol Group, the international airport management company. Among others he was Director of Communications and Public Affairs lobbying for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's aircraft noise mitigation programmes, and Director of Strategic Projects preparing for Schiphol's IPO (which was later cancelled by the Dutch Labour Party) and setting up a strategic alliance between Schiphol and Frankfurt International Airport. He was also responsible for Schiphol's USD 1.2 billion terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, a position he happened to start on September 11, 2001 forcing a major financial restructuring of the project. Subsequently he was appointed Managing Director of Schiphol International overseeing all of Schiphol's operations and investments outside the Netherlands.