Newsletter December 2024

Research: Utrecht Science Park grows strongly in employment and remains biggest science park in the Netherlands

Campuses and science parks of the Netherlands are essential for job growth and new business activity. Innovations and innovative collaborations result in solutions that accelerate societal transitions. So says the research report published on 4 December by Buck Consultants International. The report shows that the Utrecht Science Park has also grown strongly in terms of employees and remains by far the biggest science park in the Netherlands with more than 31,000 employees.

Thursday 21 November saw the symbolic launch of the digital platform for laboratory materials ‘Laboratory Exchange platform Utrecht Science Park’ (LABEX USP). LABEX USP is an application that makes supply and demand of laboratory materials visible, enables transfer and facilitates circular use. From 1 January 2025, LABEX USP will start with a three-month pilot in which some partners will do a test run. After that, the application will be available to all research and educational institutions at the Utrecht Science Park.

Saturday 9 November was the yearly exercise of the Calamity Hospital in the UMC Utrecht. Not only the regular participants had to face a major incident, but partners of emergency services in the region and the Ministry of Defence also took part in the exercise. The Utrecht Safety Region, the police, the Utrecht Regional Ambulance Service, the Red Cross emergency response team, the fire brigade and crisis coordinators of the Utrecht Science Park were also active.

On Thursday 14 November, Utrecht Science Park Bilthoven opened its doors for a unique look behind the scenes. The Utrecht Science Park Café highlighted a number of impressive topics that are in full development in Bilthoven, including the Pandemic Preparedness Centre, which plays a crucial role in tackling a possible new pandemic. They also told about the development of the Impetus building and the relocation of the RIVM to the Utrecht Science Park. Finally, a tour of the science park followed, past the special facilities.

The Utrecht Science Week 2024 was a great success! For over a week, you could visit inspiring events around (applied) science and innovation at the Utrecht Science Park. We are now preparing for the fifth edition of Utrecht Science Week, which will take place from Friday 26 September to Sunday 5 October 2025. Together with various partners, a varied programme will be put together for a diverse target group. Will you be there (again)?

Liver organoids demonstrate a potentially new targeted treatment for hepatoblastoma during drug trials. Researchers at the Princess Máxima Center grew the mini-tumours in the lab, accelerating research into new treatments for this rare form of liver cancer. Preparations for a first international clinical trial with a targeted drug have started partly due to this research.

The new tool Copilot for COPD helps people with COPD to have fewer and less severe lung attacks. The tool was developed based on years of research by Yvonne Korpershoek (HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht), in cooperation with UMC Utrecht, Lung Fund, Topicus and Digidok. Chris Spaan, COPD patient: ‘Self-management means understanding your disease, knowing your limits and knowing when to intervene. This improves the quality of life.’

Prof. Dr. Edward Nieuwenhuis has been appointed as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology. Nieuwenhuis will succeed Prof Dr Rob Pieters, whose term expires on 1 January 2025. Nieuwenhuis was head of paediatrics at UMC Utrecht's Wilhelmina Children's Hospital for 11 years. Nieuwenhuis will start as CMO on 1 February 2025.

On Wednesday 6 November, the Louis Bolk Institute and Utrecht University signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The two organisations have earned their reputations when it comes to scientific research on sustainable and healthy food and agriculture transition. With the signing, the parties express their intention to work together more intensively and frequently in the future. The document was signed by Ilse Geijzendorffer (Louis Bolk Institute) and Anton Pijpers (Utrecht University), in the presence of Johan Garssen (chairman Future Food Utrecht).

This year, seven Utrecht researchers will receive an ERC Consolidator Grant of around €2 million each. The EU provides these grants to support excellent academics in their research. The Utrecht researchers receiving a grant for their research are: Jesper Nederlof, Peter Ngene and Saskia Suijkerbuik (Faculty of Science), Ylona van Dinther and Simon Scheider (Faculty of Geosciences), Aniek Janssen (UMC Utrecht) and Jarno Drost (Princess Máxima Center).

On Thursday 28 November, the first pile was driven, marking the start of the renovation of the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (WKZ). With this renovation, the WKZ/UMC Utrecht is taking a big step towards a future-proof children's hospital, where innovative and sustainable care is provided to our patients and their families. A common thread of the renovation is the creation of space, peace and privacy for both child and parent or carer.

The Botanic Gardens went into hibernation from 1 December. You are welcome back on Friday 1 March 2025. During the winter closure, the Gardens will be working on major maintenance and new developments. Employees of Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht and USP partners have free access to the Gardens with a valid pass. For these card holders, however, the Gardens will be closed from 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.