16-17 June, 2026
Limburg, Netherlands

The Top7 Communities of 2026 will be announced in Brightlands-Limburg, Netherlands – a 2025 Smart21 Community and leader in technology and business innovation. With a population of just over 1,100,000 people, the Province of Limburg has developed an "ecosystem of ecosystems" to drive sustainable growth under the "Brightlands" brand: a place where innovation has no limits. The Top7 Conference is produced in collaboration with the Province of Limburg and Brightlands-Limburg.

The heart of Brightlands Limburg are its four innovation campuses: Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, and Brightlands Smart Services Campus. At these campuses, 32,000 entrepreneurs, researchers and students work on breakthroughs in sustainability, health, nutrition and digitalization every day. These innovations are valued not just on commmercial viability but on their social contribution. And the campuses continue to expand - there is always room for talent at every level, whether in the form of jobs, education or entrepreneurship. 

Registration will open soon. If you wish to sign up to receive additional information about this conference or the associated extended VIP delegation trip, click here.

Conference Theme: Circular Living, Building Sustainable Communities Through Innovation and Local Impact

What does circularity truly mean for the people, employers, and institutions of a city or region? It is more than recycling or resource efficiency. It represents a complete rethinking of how we live, work, and grow together.

In a circular community, waste is no longer the end of a process but the beginning of a new one. Materials, ideas, and energy flow continuously through systems designed to regenerate rather than deplete. This creates opportunities for entrepreneurs and established industries alike to drive innovation, develop new business models, and strengthen local economies through collaboration and creativity.

Circular living transforms communities into engines of resilience. It revitalizes city centers and residential areas as new businesses and new residents converge to seize opportunities born from sustainable design and local ingenuity. It empowers knowledge workers to invent and apply solutions that balance prosperity with stewardship—turning environmental responsibility into competitive advantage.

For residents, circularity means living in neighborhoods that are cleaner, greener, and more connected. For employers, it means attracting and retaining talent who want to build meaningful careers in places that reflect their values. For local leaders, it means forging partnerships that make sustainability profitable and innovation practical.

Ultimately, circular living builds more than sustainable economies. It builds vibrant, inclusive communities. It creates a circle of prosperity, where environmental health, economic growth, and social cohesion reinforce one another. It’s a vision of a world in which innovation fuels opportunity, opportunity sustains community, and community nurtures a better place to work, live, and raise the next generation.

Agenda at a Glance

NOTE: All information below is tentative and subject to change.

15 June (Monday) - VIP Extended Delegation Only

• Site Visits to Maastricht Facilities and Companies
• Meetings with Startups in the Brightlands-Limburg Ecosystem

16 June (Tuesday) - Conference Day - Chemelot Campus

• 8:00 - Bus Pickup from Maastricht Hotel
• 8:30 - Registration at Chemelot Campus
• 9:00 to 10:45 - Welcome Session, Morning Keynote, Leadership Panel
• 10:45 to 11:15 - Coffee Break
• 11:15 to 12:45 - Breakout Sessions and Site Visits
• 12:45 to 1:45 - Lunch
• 1:45 to 3:15 - Breakout Sessions and Site Visits
• 3:15 to 3:45 - Coffee Break
• 3:45 to 5:00 - Panel Discussion and Closing
• 5:00 to 6:00 - Evening Reception
• 6:00 to 6:30 - Bus back to Maastricht for an open evening for dinner in the city

17 June (Wednesday) - Conference Day and Top7 Awards Luncheon - MECC Convention Center and Limburg Government Building

Morning Program:

• 8:15 - Bus Pickup from Maastricht Hotel
• 8:30 - Registration at MECC Convention Center
• 9:00 to 10:20 - Welcome Session, Morning Keynote, Leadership Panel
• 10:20 to 10:50 - Coffee Break
• 10:50 to 12:40 - Panel Discussions and Keynote Presentation
• 12:45 - Depart to Government Building for Top7 Awards Luncheon

Luncheon:

• 1:00 - Registration Opens
• 1:30 - Luncheon Begins
• 1:40 - Opening Remarks
• 2:40 - Top7 Announcement
• 3:15 - Luncheon Concludes

Evening Site Visit - City of Maastricht - VIP Extended Delegation and Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo Program Participants Only

• 6:00pm - Meet at Maastricht Hotel for 90-minute walking tour

18 June (Thursday) - Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo Program, Head to Eindhoven - Additional Registration Required

Venlo Campus Program

In the morning, depart from the Maastricht Hotel (VIP Extended Delegation Members will check out from the hotel) and head to the Brightlands Venlo Campus for a half day program on healthy nutrition, future farming, and biocircular economy. The program will consist of panel discussions and presentations, a site visit of the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, and lunch. This program requires additional registration.

• 08:00 - Bus Departs Maastricht Hotel
• 09:00 - Registration Opens at Brightlands Venlo Campus
• 09:30 to 1:00 - Program and Site Visit
• 1:00 to 2:00 - Lunch
• 2:00 - Bus Departs from Venlo Campus to Venlo Train Station. Those traveling by shuttle be dropped at the Venlo Train Station after the Campus Visit. VIP Delegation Members will head to Eindhoven, and all others will head either back to Maastricht or on to their next destination.

Travel to Eindhoven - VIP Extended Delegation Only

The VIP Extended Delegation participants will travel by train to Eindhoven, check into their hotel, and go out to dinner in the city. This will be followed by an evening walking tour of Eindhoven City Center.

19 June (Friday) - Eindhoven Site Visits and Meetings - VIP Delegation Only

A day of site visits and meetings with Eindhoven companies and organizations. Eindhoven was the 2011 Intelligent Community of the Year.

Learn more about Brightlands-Limburg

Want to learn more about the region? Watch this sit-down interview produced by ICF with Mr. Stephan Satijn, Regional Minister for Economy, Finance & Business Operations, Province of Limburg: