Utrecht Science Park: source of economic and social growth

Picture: Joost Melis

UTRECHT – In Peter Wennink’s report, presented on Friday 12 december 2025 , Utrecht Science Park is cited as one of the key innovation locations and sources of progress and growth. It is home to a  significant amount of innovative activity focused on health and biotechnology, a sector  that offers excellent opportunities for increasing the Netherlands’ earning capacity. At the  same time, investments in this sector also directly contribute to the health and quality of  life of the Dutch population. 

Importance of Preconditions for Innovation 

Based on the report, the health and biotechnology sector has developed a strategy  demonstrating that investing in new medicines, diagnostics, therapies, and medical  technology is beneficial for the Dutch economy. It leads to sustainable growth, many good  jobs, and faster access to innovative treatments for patients. According to the sector, this can  only be achieved if the conditions for growth are significantly improved. This aligns with the  advice of Peter Wennink, who specifically wants to invest in sectors where the Netherlands  has an international presence. An analysis by KPMG shows that the Netherlands already has  many assets: strong biotech clusters, excellent infrastructure, and internationally recognized  knowledge institutions. Yet, companies face significant obstacles. Lack of funding, space, and  slow procedures hinder growth. Investing in these preconditions will help the sector continue  to grow.

Call to action to politicians 

Utrecht Science Park is pleased with the outcome of the Wennink report and fully endorses  the urgency. Jan Henk van der Velden (managing director of the Utrecht Science Park  Foundation) states: “We are pleased with the sense of urgency to improve the preconditions  for innovation. After Draghi’s wake-up call for Europe, we hope that Wennink’s call to action  will now be prioritized by the Dutch government. As the biggest science park in the country,  we are ready to give the Netherlands’ earning capacity a powerful boost.” Biotech company Genmab, located at Utrecht Science Park, recently announced its  acquisition of neighbor Merus for nearly 7 billion euros. This will help retain valuable  knowledge in the Netherlands. If the preconditions for innovation improve, there are many  more opportunities to foster startups from the strong scientific knowledge base and grow  them into successful companies based in the Netherlands. Ton Logtenberg (CEO Gyes,  founder and former CEO Merus): “We certainly see the need for this approach, especially  from Utrecht research & development companies. We recognize Wennink’s  recommendations and expect that they will now recognize the importance of actually  implementing it.” 

‘Powerhouse of the biotech sector’ 

Utrecht Science Park, within the Utrecht “Heart of Health” region, is a unique and valuable  location where universities, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies collaborate  closely. This allows new ideas and scientific discoveries to be quickly translated into practical  solutions for healthcare and society. 

Within the Utrecht Life Sciences theme, major organizations such as Utrecht University,  University Medical Center Utrecht, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Princess  Máxima Center, the KNAW institutes Hubrecht and Westerdijk, and the RIVM (National  Institute for Public Health and the Environment) are collaborating intensively. Because so  many hospitals and research laboratories are located close together, innovations can be  more quickly developed into applications with value for patients and the economy. Significant attention is paid to training talent, including through the Graduate School of Life  Sciences, which is the largest in Europe. To achieve even greater impact, it is important to  better support innovation, foster more startups, and accelerate the development of new  products. Utrecht Science Park was recently called “the golden square kilometer” by Mayor  Sharon Dijksma and “the powerhouse of the biotech sector” in the Financieele Dagblad. 

Utrecht Science Park’s Key Focuses 

This success is also evident in major breakthroughs and strong growth in knowledge and  businesses. Utrecht Science Park is a leader in these areas in particular: • Cancer research (oncology): A strong research cluster with 2,000 researchers united  in Utrecht Cancer, successful biotech companies like Genmab, and internationally  leading care for children with cancer at the Princess Máxima Center. 

• Regenerative medicine: The largest research cluster in the Netherlands. Here,  innovative treatments using stem cells and specialized biomaterials are being  developed by organizations including the Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht University, 

University Medical Center Utrecht, and companies such as Kuros and Scinus Cell  Expansion. 

• Infectious diseases and immunology: Utrecht Science Park combines research,  healthcare, and production. Key players include Utrecht University, University Medical  Center Utrecht, RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment),  ECRAID, and vaccine manufacturer Bilthoven Biologicals. They also play a role in  preparing for future pandemics. 
• Drug development and precision therapy: Extensive knowledge exists regarding  organoids (mini-organs for research), artificial intelligence, new tests, and animal-free  methods. Well-known companies include HUB Organoids, Gyes, and GenDx. 
• Imaging technology: UMC Utrecht is a leader in developing new imaging techniques  for research and treatments that minimize intervention. A good example is the MR Linac: a device developed in Utrecht together with Philips and Elekta. This allows  doctors to treat cancer much faster and with fewer side effects. 
• Digital healthcare and AI: Utrecht Science Park develops smart technology for  diagnosis, monitoring, and care organization, for example through the Health AI Lab  and the Medical Response Center. 

Seizing momentum 

Utrecht Science Park supports the sector’s call to leverage the momentum generated by the  Wennink report. Due to the important role the Utrecht biotech cluster plays in the national  value chain, development in the Utrecht region has a positive impact throughout the  Netherlands. By structurally strengthening the preconditions for growth and better  connecting regional ecosystems, the Netherlands can become a European leader in  healthcare innovation, with significant economic and social impact.