No fewer than seven innovative projects have received financial support through the Regio Deal Nieuw Land. These projects, aimed at strengthening talent development, innovation, and sustainability, will give Almere and Lelystad an enormous economic, innovative, and social boost. 

Almere, like Lelystad, is a rapidly growing city. The growth itself is a positive development, but it also comes with challenges such as ensuring enough jobs for residents, having well-trained technical staff, and maintaining a sustainable innovative economy.

The projects that are now starting with funds from the Regio Deal Nieuw Land directly contribute to this. They provide more opportunities in terms of education, a better connection between education and the labor market, and new spaces that offer room for the innovations of the future. Almere and Lelystad will remain and become even more attractive for companies and talent.

Allocations

An independent advisory committee has assessed the applications for the Regio Deal Nieuw Land and announced the results. Of the ten submitted applications, seven have been approved. “Our educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and governments are joining forces with these first seven projects. They are providing a significant boost to the broad prosperity in our region with this €12 million investment in the quality of life of Almere residents and Lelystad residents,” says Petrus Persoon on behalf of the advisory committee Regio Deal Nieuw Land. 

Three applications were initially not approved, but that also means there is still money available. The initiators of these projects will have the opportunity to refine their plans for a second round. Moreover, other interested parties will also have the chance to submit an application. The expectation is that this second round will start in the autumn of 2025.

The seven approved projects fall under two main themes:

Talent: it concerns six projects that together form a strong ‘talent pipeline’ from primary school to scientific education. Among others, the Ontwikkelfonds Flevoland, Powerful vocational education for Tech & Transition, AquaTerra Innovation Hub, and Collaboration ‘More talent for technology’ ensure better-trained professionals, shorter training routes, and attractive learning and working places in the region. And this also applies to the two remaining projects in this category: Premaster IT and We Shape the Future. 

Electrification: the project Electric Flying in Lelystad focuses on developing an innovation campus for sustainable aviation and the associated infrastructure.

“With the Regio Deal Nieuw Land, we are strategically investing in projects that make the Nieuw Land region (Almere – Lelystad) stronger – economically, innovatively, and socially,” says Alderman Maaike Veeningen (Economy, Municipality of Almere). “It is good to see that education, business, and government can find each other. By working together now and investing in talent and sustainable technology, we are building a future in which Lelystad, Almere, and thus Flevoland remain attractive places to learn, work, and do business,” she continues.  

What is the Regio Deal Nieuw Land?

The Regio Deal Nieuw Land is a collaboration between the national government, the province of Flevoland, and municipalities in the region to strengthen economic power, innovation, and livability. Through targeted investments, the Regio Deal supports projects that contribute to the transition to a sustainable, future-proof economy and society: Making work of Tech & Transition together, for cities of the future.