Peter Wennink, CEO at ASML, is joining the Supervisory Board of Eindhoven University of Technology, Jan Mengelers, President of the Executive Board of TU/e, announced in his new year's speech today. Wennink succeeds Marc de Jong as  industry representative. De Jong has stepped down having accepted a new job abroad. Jan Mengelers syas the university is very grateful to the considerable contribution he has made over the past four years.

According to Baptiest Coopman, chair of the TU/e Supervisory Board, the university can really benefit from having the head of a leading, international technology company like ASML in its midst. “Peter Wennink is an energetic leader that is keen to invest in the next generation. He fulfills a key position within the Brainport region and has a singular vision of education and research.”

Dream and Dare: 60 years TU/e celebrations

Jan Mengelers is also thrilled by the appointment of Wennink, someone he believes will be of great value to the university. “TU/e and industry in the region covet the strong ties with each other that go back a long way. Moreover, ASML, like TU/e, is part of the DNA of this region and the collaboration is already very close. We are both focused on research and technology at the very edge of what is possible. It is a consolidation of our relationship.”

Mengelers also announced that TU/e has engaged the pop band from The Hague, Chef'Special, as one of the acts during the university's anniversary celebrations. TU/e is 60 this year and this is being celebrated between 22 and 24 April with the Dream & Dare festival. The event will be a mix of technology, innovation, music, art, debate, science, food and drink. The three-day party is not just for students and staff but also for the city and the region. 

In addition, Mengelers announced that the prominent TU/e main building dating from 1963 will be rechristened as Atlas after its reopening in 2018. The university had enquired among its students and personnel to come up with a name, and that generated a list of some 300 names. The building is currently a work in progress. In 2018 the completely renovated building along with all kinds of general facilities will be home to the ID, IE&IS and all service departments as well as the Executive Board. Hence the rechristening. After more than fifty years of faithful service, the building had finally run its course, with both the installations and the structure in need of a thorough renovation.