Plus Ultra Utrecht officially opened: a new home for innovation at Utrecht Science Park
In front of a grand audience, Plus Ultra Utrecht was officially opened on Thursday at Utrecht Science Park. The new multi-tenant building by Kadans Science Partner marks another milestone in the further development of the largest science park in the Netherlands. With its sustainable design, flexible laboratory and office spaces, and shared facilities, Plus Ultra Utrecht provides an inspiring environment for start-ups, scale-ups, and established companies in the Life Sciences & Health sector.
Inspiring Afternoon at Utrecht Science Week
The opening was celebrated with an afternoon full of encounters, stories, and discoveries. Prof. Edward Nieuwenhuis (Chief Medical Officer, Princess Máxima Centre) and Prof. Peter van der Spek (Professor of Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC) opened the event with keynotes on funding, collaboration, and the impact of data within the life sciences, including oncology.
Visitors were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at first occupier QVQ, a tour inside the Innovation Hub and the Shared Open Innovation Lab with ICAT, and were inspired by artist Vincent Mock in the Science Gallery.
The afternoon, which formed part of Utrecht Science Week, centred around connection: between science and entrepreneurship, between art and technology, and above all between people sharing the ambition to accelerate developments in the life sciences.
Plus Ultra Utrecht
With facilities such as the i-HUB and the Shared Open Innovation Lab, Plus Ultra Utrecht offers the perfect place for start-ups to take their next step. Featuring a spacious and light-filled atrium for meetings and events, the building has been designed to stimulate cross-pollination. Its location at Utrecht Science Park, adjacent to leading institutions such as UMC Utrecht and the Princess Máxima Centre, makes it an ideal place for entrepreneurs in life sciences & health.
Steijn Ribbens, CIO, Kadans Science Partner:
“We are proud that with Plus Ultra Utrecht we have created an exceptionally sustainable space that not only looks and feels good, but hopefully does good as well. I look forward to all the new collaborations and ideas that Plus Ultra will inspire.”
Future-Oriented Space
Plus Ultra Utrecht offers approximately 23,000 m² of future-proof laboratory and office space and has been developed according to the highest sustainability standards, including a BREEAM Outstanding certification. The building, with its spectacular atrium, was designed by architectural firm cepezed. With the opening of Plus Ultra Utrecht, Kadans adds a new link to its international network, offering entrepreneurs access to talent, knowledge, and capital at both a local and European level.
UtrechtInc has been recognized in the Financial Times “Europe’s Leading Startup Hubs 2026” ranking.
While UtrechtInc is proud of this recognition, the real stars of the story are the entrepreneurs, researchers, and students who walk through its doors every day.
Are you participating in the Utrecht Marathon or are you a keen runner? Register for the Running Symposium on March 19th.
On Sunday, May 31st, Utrecht Science Park will once again be the setting for the Utrecht Marathon. Thousands of runners will line up at the starting line to achieve a fantastic feat: running a quarter, half, or full marathon! To help you prepare optimally, the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, in collaboration with partners Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, and Olympos Sports Centre, is organizing a running symposium where you’ll be informed and inspired to get the most out of your running performance.
Applications Now Open for UtrechtInc Validation Programmes
Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn research or an idea into a startup? The validation programmes offered by UtrechtInc may provide the first step. Applications are now open.
Utrecht Science Park researchers receive prestigious Cancer Grand Challenge grants
Several research groups, including researchers from UMC Utrecht, the Princess Máxima Center, and the Hubrecht Institute, have been selected for a prestigious Cancer Grand Challenge (CGC) grant. Cancer Grand Challenges was co-founded in 2020 by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States. The initiative supports international, multidisciplinary research teams focusing on major challenges in cancer research.