Today, a pervasive network of linkages exists between Philips with private organisations (SMEs and multinationals) and research and academic institutions across the three countries of the TTR-ELAt (Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands). Those cross-border areas often have a long history, and sometimes represent historical regional definitions. For example, the Swedish part of the Oresund was part of Denmark until the end of the 17th century, and Danish remained an official language for two centuries.