In 1997, as part of a slowly evolving collaboration within Eurode, the idea was conceived of realising an office complex straddling both sides of the border where a multitude of other businesses might be housed, complementary to those already existing at the Technologiepark Herzogenrath. Herzogenrath and Kerkrade, together with the respective development corporations, the Aachener Gesellschaft für Innovation und Technologietransfer (AGIT) and the Dutch N.V. Industriebank LIOF, worked out the concept in detail.

The added value of this business centre acted as an impulse to cross-border economic development and to expanding business networks in both countries.

Bearing in mind that there were already several such similar business and technology parks on either side of the frontier, any new business complex would have to desist from taking up a competitive position in relation to existing ones. For that reason, service industry and innovation were chosen as key themes. Concentration of these activities would provide an opportunity for a pilot project to be carried out whose aim was to adapt and harmonise German and Dutch legal systems. One condition was that the building would be located precisely on the border of the two countries.

The EBC is aimed at the following target groups:

General service industries, such as employment agencies, law firms, tax consultants, business consultants, PR and marketing companies, agencies promoting local and regional culture, local recreation and tourism, estate agents and other property development companies.

Specific service industries, such as, (tele)communication businesses and cross-border multimedia concerns, technology transfer facilities, complementary to existing hi-tech innovation centres, cross-border service providers in the field of health-care.