Team ‘Utrecht East’ winner Sustainable City Challenge during the Utrecht Science Week

Friday 4 October was the finale of the Sustainable City Challenge, a five-day pressure cooker (from 30 September to 4 October) during the Utrecht Science Week, where student teams are challenged to create imaginative ideas for a more sustainable Utrecht. Team ‘Utrecht East’, with the theme Climate Adaptation, won the challenge with their idea around ‘Green Corridors’.
Utrecht healthier, more liveable and greener
Around 100 students (some international) from ROC Midden Nederland, Utrecht School of the Arts and the HU University of Applied Sciences worked in mixed teams on this challenge. The challenge took place in various districts in the city, such as Overvecht, Cartesius, Merwede and Utrecht Science Park. The five sustainable themes of this year’s challenge were climate adaptation, active mobility, community building, (mental) well-being and circularity.
Together with partners including the Cartesius Consortium, Utrecht University, Project O, ROM Utrecht Region and the Municipality of Utrecht, the student teams worked on challenging issues with the aim of making Utrecht healthier, more liveable and greener.
Green Corridors
On Friday 4 October, as part and closing of the Utrecht Science Week, the students presented their ideas during the expo in the Accelerator at the Utrecht Science Park. This was followed by the finals where five finalist teams presented their innovative ideas and visitors could vote for the public winner.
Team ‘Utrecht Oost’ won this year’s challenge with their idea on Green Corridors around stadium Galgenwaard. The concept consists of planted tunnels that guide the public to and from the stadium. Around these, green communal areas can be created for residents. The winning group was presented with the award by André van Schie ( provincial executive of Utrecht Province) and Jan Henk van der Velden (managing director of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation).
Great to see the teams developing wonderful innovative and creative ideas for a more sustainable city in such a short time.
More about Sustainable City Challenge.

Laigo Bio at Utrecht Science Park raises €11.5 million in investments
Laigo Bio, a start-up located at Utrecht Science Park in the Life Sciences Incubator building, announced today that it has raised €11.5 million in investments from a large number of leading investors.

Ronald McDonald House Utrecht presents plans for new, larger House with 50 rooms
Ronald McDonald House Utrecht is building for the future. At Utrecht Science Park, next to the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital and within walking distance of the Princess Máxima Center, Ronald McDonald House Utrecht has advanced plans to build a brand new, sustainable House with 50 guest rooms. Preparations are well underway, and construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. The goal is to open the new House sometime in 2028. This expansion will allow the House to offer more families of seriously ill or care-intensive children a warm home, allowing them to be close to their sick child day and night.

Renewal and sustainability UMC Utrecht
In the coming years, most of the UMC Utrecht will be renovated, rebuilt or newly constructed. Many of our buildings are already nearly forty years old and require renovation and sustainability.

Utrecht Science Week anniversary edition a great success
The fifth edition of Utrecht Science Week was a resounding success! With more programs, locations, speakers, and visitors than ever before, we look back on an exciting week. The variety of programs and the diverse audience were wonderful to witness. This way, the groundbreaking research here at Utrecht Science Park isn’t kept behind closed doors, but is given the opportunity to inspire others.