Gerard Beenker joined Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven in 1980. Since 1989 he had several management positions in the sector IC Design of Philips Research. On January 1st 1999 he was appointed Senior Vice President of Philips Research. From January 1999 till February 2006, he has been responsible for the sector IC Design in Philips Research, combined with his role as manager of the IC Program and account manager for Philips Semiconductors.
 
In 2006 he established the NXP Research organisation, and was appointed as manager of the NXP Research organisation. In November 2008, he became Scientific Director of NXP and manager of NXP External Relations. In this role, he particularly focuses on developing and managing external relations with scientific, R&D communities and public authorities, reflecting the growing importance of external partnerships for leveraging NXP’s R&D portfolio. In the fall of 2009 he was elected member of the Presidium of Artemisia, and member of the Board of Business Cluster Semiconductors. He is active in various advisory boards and councils, amongst others he is responsible for the roadmap Components and Circuits of the topsector High Tech Systems and Materials as well as member of the Technology Committee of VNO-NCW.