Newsletter September 2025

Utrecht Science Week is about to begin, register now

From 26 September to 5 October, the fifth edition of Utrecht Science Week will take place. Registrations are now in full swing. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to explore groundbreaking world-class science and innovation through a program full of engaging lectures, interactive workshops, guided tours, and captivating interviews on the themes of health and sustainability. Don’t miss it and discover what science has to offer!

Former Hubrecht director Hans Clevers will return to the Hubrecht Institute on 1 September as a “distinguished group leader.” He will lead the Organoid group, which will now be called the Clevers group. Clevers is internationally renowned for his groundbreaking research on stem cells and the development of organoids – mini-organs that mimic the function of real organs and are used to study diseases and test new drugs. After several years in the pharmaceutical sector, he is now returning to focus entirely on science.

On 7 July 2025, the Ombion Centre for Animal-free Biomedical Translation was officially launched and opened its location at Utrecht Science Park. The centre promotes the transition to animal-free medical innovations and collaborates with more than 60 partners on research, education, and practical application. The launch of Ombion took place during a festive event at the Life Sciences Incubator building on Utrecht Science Park, attended by many guests.

Neurosurgeons at UMC Utrecht, in collaboration with TU Eindhoven, have developed a new ultrasound technique that allows them to measure blood flow live during brain surgeries. This method enables the risks of a stroke to be detected earlier and potentially even prevented. The technique, called Ultrafast Power Doppler Imaging, was successfully tested in ten patients and may also prove useful for other types of surgeries in the future, such as kidney transplants.

During the Opening of the Academic Year, the student awards were presented. Bas Kraan won the Best Master’s Thesis award for his research on participation workers in the labor market. The Social Impact Award went to Rowing Blind, a committee that organizes rowing programs for blind and visually impaired participants together with students. The Vliegenthart Thesis Award was awarded to Pepijn de Koning for his work on the cultural memory of the deportation of patients from the Apeldoornsche Bosch.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Worldwide, extra attention is being called for children with cancer – and it is urgently needed. In the Netherlands, around 600 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. The Princess Máxima Center is also highlighting childhood cancer this month with the nationwide campaign “Getting Better Is More Than Being Cured.”

On Wednesday, 4 September, movement professor Erik Scherder, together with representatives from the Municipality of Utrecht, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU), Utrecht University (UU), and the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, literally took a step towards more movement. Together, they participated in a WorkWalk through the green surroundings of Utrecht Science Park. The walk was held in the run-up to Vitality Week at the end of September and is part of a broader initiative to better combine work and vitality.

On Thursday, 28 August, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences opened the new academic year. In this year, marking the HU’s 30th anniversary, the university looked back together with guests on more than 100 years of higher professional education in Utrecht. Chair Wilma Scholte op Reimer said: “Together, we continue to work towards a shared goal: contributing to solutions for the major challenges of our time.”

Over the past ten years, the so-called RAP consultation has established itself as the central platform where the execution of construction activities in Utrecht Science Park comes together and is reviewed, including aspects such as accessibility, safety, and livability. During this period, much has been achieved, demonstrating that the consultation between all parties adds value in effectively managing all construction activities.

Starting 1 September, parents at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital no longer need to wear a blue gown, cap, and slippers when accompanying their child to the operating room. This provides children with more calm and confidence and saves over 2,500 kilos of waste annually. WKZ is the first children’s hospital to take this step, improving not only the well-being of children but also contributing to sustainability.

Utrecht Science Park is a place full of stories. In the shortcast series “Een Academisch Kwartiertje met…,” special locations, historical moments, and inspiring ideas are highlighted in just 15 minutes. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of Utrecht Science Park. Listening posts are also installed at the locations.

Utrecht Science Week will take place from 26 September to 5 October. In recent weeks, several new events have been added to the already rich program. Residents, professionals, researchers, and students interested in the themes of “health” and “sustainability” can choose from a wide range of interesting and inspiring activities. Read more about some of the recently added program highlights.