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Anniversary Edition

Over the past five years, Utrecht Science Week has grown into a leading annual event in Utrecht, showcasing innovation, research, and collaboration at the largest science park in the Netherlands. This anniversary edition will once again offer a rich program with engaging lectures, interactive workshops, guided tours, and high-profile interviews. There will be more than 50 speakers and 30 events, spread across more than 25 locations at Utrecht Science Park.

Various audience groups

Utrecht Science Week is interesting for staff and students at Utrecht Science Park, but certainly also for professionals and residents from throughout the region and the country. And for families with children, there’s the Weekend of Science (“Weekend van de Wetenschap”), featuring experiments, tours, workshops, and craft activities.

Opening with a keynote by Prof. Dr. Jan van de Winkel

Utrecht Science Week kicks off on Friday, September 26th, with a special lecture by Prof. Dr. Jan van de Winkel, founder and CEO of Genmab, an international biotechnology company specializing in antibody therapies for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. During this Utrecht Science Lecture, he will explore how immunotherapy is revolutionizing medicine. Read a recent Q&A with Jan van de Winkel here.

Unique opportunity

The week also offers a unique opportunity to see where and how the science of the future is being shaped. Visitors will have access to normally closed facilities, such as the high-tech plant lab NPEC, the Hubrecht Institute, and the Westerdijk Institute. You can also join an expedition to Amelisweerd and be inspired during the Sustainability Day (“Dag van de Duurzaamheid”) organized by HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and Utrecht University, and visit the only academic animal hospital in the Netherlands at the Veterinary Hospital of the Future. UMC Utrecht is also organizing several very interesting events, such as the finals of the Ureka Mega Challenge, a lecture and debate on the future of AI in healthcare, and a session on cardiovascular research at Utrecht Science Park. Of course, there are also various events for students, such as the Utrecht Science Week Pub Quiz and the finals of the Sustainable City Challenge, where students pitch their ideas for making various Utrecht neighborhoods more sustainable.

Weekend of Science

We conclude Utrecht Science Week on Sunday, October 5th, with a special event for younger visitors: the Weekend of Science (“Weekend van de Wetenschap”). During this national science weekend, visitors can explore the world of research, technology, and innovation in an accessible and interactive way. From conducting experiments in a real laboratory to building their own robots or discovering how pediatricians and researchers collaborate on groundbreaking treatments. This year, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht University, the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ), and the Princess Máxima Center, among others, will be opening their doors.

Full Program

But there’s much more to experience during Utrecht Science Week. Visitors can view the full program and register here. All events, except the Betweterfestival, are free to attend, but some have limited space, so registering soon is recommended.