Newsletter January 2026

‘USP WorkWalks’ breaks sedentary habits and now also receives national recognition with the BeweegAward

The Dutch spend an average of nine hours a day sitting, making them the “European champions of sitting”, which is harmful to health and performance. USP WorkWalks, an inspiring initiative by HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht in collaboration with Utrecht University, the Municipality of Utrecht, and the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, breaks this pattern and has now also received national recognition. he initiators received the 2025 Exercise Award from State Secretary Judith Tielen (Health, Welfare and Sport) on Friday, January 16th.

Patients with severe kidney failure often depend on dialysis in the hospital. At UMC Utrecht, patients in the Netherlands are now testing a wearable artificial kidney at home for the first time. The first patients are participating in a clinical study using the so-called NeoKidney. The goal is to offer greater freedom and control in daily life, without compromising safety.

The Dutch MedTech sector has presented an ambitious growth plan aimed at positioning the Netherlands among Europe’s leaders by 2035. UMC Utrecht contributed to the development of this plan, which was co-presented by Carina Hilders, Chair of the Executive Board of UMC Utrecht. Through this initiative, the sector has contributed to the Wennink report.

Five years ago, a 3D-printed titanium implant was placed in a dog’s elbow. Thanks to a collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and the 3D Lab of UMC Utrecht, an amputation was avoided at the time. Last Friday, the first step toward human medicine was taken: at Anna Hospital in Geldrop, a 3D-printed titanium hip cup was implanted for the first time in a 36-year-old man with hip dysplasia.

On the evening of Monday, January 19, the Utrecht Science Park New Year’s Café took place. It was wonderful to see so many different partners represented. Through an interactive pub quiz with question hosts from various partners, guests were thoroughly tested on their knowledge of Utrecht Science Park. The questions and valuable conversations during the evening highlighted the importance of the many collaborations and the strong ecosystem at Utrecht Science Park.

A remarkable world of state-of-the-art robots, laser scanners, climate chambers, and other installations is hidden inside an inconspicuous windowless building at Utrecht Science Park. It is entirely focused on the question of how the world population will still have enough food in 2050. The NPEC is a unique high-tech plant laboratory at Utrecht Science Park.

During 3FM Serious Request, the whole of the Netherlands took action for Spieren voor Spieren. More than €18 million was raised, making a real difference for children with a muscle disease. UMC Utrecht and the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital also got involved. At the Spieren voor Spieren Children’s Center, the daily impact of a muscle disease on the lives of children and their families is clearly seen.

To make public transport future-proof, Strukton is working on the tram line on Padualaan at Utrecht Science Park on behalf of the Province of Utrecht. Work on the tracks will begin in mid-January near the Weg tot de Wetenschap, just past the tram stop.

The Coïmbrapad, the small square between Spar and the University Library, will look different this spring. Everyone can vote on one of the two designs currently available. The initiative was started by resident representatives in collaboration with partners from Utrecht Science Park (Municipality of Utrecht, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht Science Park Foundation, Utrecht University).

Utrecht East has taken a step into a new phase of sustainable mobility. On January 19, 2026, 24 major organizations from Utrecht Science Park and Kantorenpark Rijnsweerd signed a joint pledge: to make travel more sustainable, encourage more walking and cycling, increase public transport use, and structurally reduce peak-hour congestion.

In the presence of Her Majesty Queen Máxima, representatives from the Princess Máxima Center and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a four-year partnership to improve global practical knowledge of radiotherapy for children with cancer. As part of the partnership, the IAEA has designated the Princess Máxima Center as an IAEA Collaborating Center for four years.

A new international research center has officially opened its doors: the Vilnius-Utrecht Center for Advanced Disease Modeling. The initiative brings together Vilnius University in Lithuania (in close collaboration with the Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos), UMC Utrecht, and Utrecht University. The goal is to create a globally competitive environment that accelerates research, diagnostic innovation, and personalized medicine.