TU/e Names Industry Veteran Koen Janssen as New President

2026-03-20 community

Eindhoven, Friday, 20 March 2026.
Koen Janssen, a Belgian chemistry PhD with over 30 years at DSM, officially takes over as President of Eindhoven University of Technology’s Executive Board on March 27, 2025. The 61-year-old prioritizes people-centered leadership and will work four days weekly in Eindhoven while caring for grandchildren in Belgium on Wednesdays.

From Chemical Engineering to Academic Leadership

Janssen’s appointment represents a strategic choice for TU/e during a critical period for Dutch technical education. Born in 1964, he studied chemistry at KU Leuven where he obtained his PhD [1]. His extensive industry background includes over three decades at DSM, where he eventually became global vice president of Innovation and Sustainability at DSM Biomedical in the United States [1]. This international experience included a three-year tenure in the US, providing him with global perspectives on technology commercialization and innovation management [1]. In 2022, Janssen transitioned to academia-adjacent roles as managing director of the TNO Brightlands Materials Center in Geleen [1], bridging his industrial expertise with research institution leadership.

A People-First Leadership Philosophy

Janssen’s leadership approach centers on relationship-building and human-centered management, a philosophy that distinguishes him in the typically technology-focused academic environment. “I’m not here for the title or prestige; it’s about the substance and what I can contribute to the organization,” Janssen emphasized in his pre-appointment interview [1]. His management style prioritizes social safety, participation, and consensus-building, describing himself as “a people manager, a connector” [1]. This approach extends to his work-life integration, as he plans to maintain his residence in Bilzen, Belgium, working four days weekly in Eindhoven while dedicating Wednesdays to caring for his grandchildren in Belgium [1]. “Everyone’s starting point should be: what do students and researchers need to excel,” he stated, underscoring his student-centric vision [1].

Strategic Timing and Regional Economic Impact

The leadership transition occurs at a pivotal moment for both TU/e and the broader Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem. Janssen submitted his application in September 2024 and began his role on March 1, 2025, with the official handover from Robert-Jan Smits scheduled for March 27, 2025 [1]. His appointment coincides with TU/e’s 70th anniversary in 2026 and the university’s strategic expansion in semiconductors through its Future Chips flagship [3]. The timing proves crucial as housing constraints threaten regional growth, with TU/e partnering in a landmark initiative signed on March 4, 2026, to create 5,400 new student housing units over eight years [4][5]. This represents one of the largest student housing expansions in the Netherlands, addressing what former president Robert-Jan Smits identified as “one of the biggest threats to the continued growth of the Brainport ecosystem” [6].

Positioning TU/e in the Innovation Ecosystem

Under Janssen’s leadership, TU/e continues strengthening its role as a cornerstone of the Dutch knowledge economy. The university currently serves approximately 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with around 1,350 PhD and EngD candidates, supported by roughly 3,900 employees and operating on a budget of €412.6 million as of 2020 [2]. Janssen recognizes TU/e’s unique position within the Brainport region, noting that “TU/e is a special university because of its close ties and cooperation with the Brainport region. We excel in semiconductors and are happy to provide the excellent engineers and knowledge with which the companies in the region can continue to grow” [1]. His leadership debut was marked by opening a Defense, Security & Resilience forum in March 2026, attended by 150 participants from industry, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, and NGOs, demonstrating TU/e’s expanding role in critical national technology domains [7]. This strategic positioning aligns with broader European trends where housing infrastructure increasingly determines regional competitiveness in the knowledge economy, as noted by strategic advisor Ricardo Abdoel: “Housing is no longer simply a real estate issue. It has become an infrastructural condition for economic growth” [6].

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