Overijssel-based Kennispark Twente, a company that aims to strengthen the environment for creative entrepreneurs in the Twente area, announced on Wednesday, March 15, that its Supervisory Board has appointed Marike Bezema as its new director.
As of March 15, 2023, Bezema has started working to further expand Kennispark Twente and transform it into a dynamic and sustainable innovation district to attract more talent.
Chairman Arjan Kampman says, “Marike Bezema is a connector with a proven track record. Her personality, combined with her experience in complex stakeholder environments, give Marike the right basis to develop Kennispark Twente together with all parties and initiatives into a future-proof innovation district of international stature.”
Who is Marike Bezema?
Bezema served as head of the Supervisory Board of VluchtelingenWerk Oost-Nederland and is a member of the Supervisory Boards of Twente Milieu and FC Twente. She was born and raised in De Lutte, before relocating to Rotterdam to pursue her education.
She started her work in 2001 as an interim financial manager at Ernst & Young, where she had a number of ministry tasks, including managing the finances for the avian influenza outbreak. She moved back to Twente from Rotterdam in 2005 and has since resided in De Lutte.
Bezema has worked at a number of organisations in recent years. These include Waterschap Regge en Dinkel, Omgevingsdienst Twente, consulting company BMC, Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta, and as quartermaster Mobility Team Labor Market Twente.
She is also publicly engaged and has chaired the Eshuis Foundation since 2021, which launches social projects, primarily involving young people. She also serves on the council of the Lutterzand Literair, a literary event in nature.
Bezema says, “My ambition is to make Kennispark a visible Twente breeding ground for innovations. The entrepreneurship, the unique knowledge position and the (young) professionals give Twente a special place that contributes to our societal challenges. I look forward to working with the regional partners.”
About Kennispark Twente
At Kennispark Twente, entrepreneurs, the government, and academic institutions work together to realise the region’s potential and raise Kennispark’s profile around the world. A regional plan was introduced in February 2018.
“Together, we work towards becoming the dynamic prime location we aim to be by 2030,” says the organisation.
Kennispark Twente is one of eight major innovation campuses in the Netherlands. It provides entrepreneurship, innovation, high-tech systems and materials, smart industry, startups, scale-ups, medtech, secure systems, advanced materials, fotonica, and nanotechnologies.
More than 400 businesses and organisations make up the Kennispark Twente community, which also includes over 5000 innovators and entrepreneurs.
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