Looking back at the successful Utrecht Science Park Spring Café: the power of an ecosystem in setting up and running a startup

On Thursday, April 9, the Utrecht Science Park Spring Café took place at UtrechtInc. In an informal setting, colleagues, partners, and stakeholders gathered to meet and catch up on developments within the Utrecht Science Park.
During the meeting, entrepreneurship at Utrecht Science Park took center stage, featuring pitches from successful startups and an introduction by Stefan Braam of UtrechtInc. and Jan Henk van der Velden of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation.
Robert Englmeier of CryoCloud and Thymen den Hartog of Verticai explained their startups and shared insights on entrepreneurship and the power of the ecosystem at Utrecht Science Park. Afterwards, there was time for networking and connecting with snacks and drinks.
The inspiring setting of UtrechtInc. once again highlighted the role of Utrecht Science Park as a place where startups, knowledge institutions, and healthcare providers come together to make an impact.
We look back on a successful edition and thank all attendees for their presence and contribution to the discussions.
Below is a photo impression (pictures Seth Carnill).





Petra Baarendse appointed new Managing Director of Stichting Utrecht Science Park as of 1 September
Utrecht, 2 July 2026 – As of 1 September 2026, Petra Baarendse will take office as the new Managing Director of Stichting Utrecht Science Park. She succeeds Jan Henk van der Velden, who has stepped down and will take on a new role as Managing Director of Stichting Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug.

Registration for Utrecht Science Week 2026 is now open: the knowledge festival at Utrecht Science Park
From Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October, the sixth edition of Utrecht Science Week will take place. Utrecht Science Park will open its doors to everyone interested in (applied) science and innovation in the fields of life sciences, health, and sustainability.
The first programme elements have now been announced and registration is open. Many more events and activities will be added to the programme in the coming weeks.

New artificial heart implanted for the first time in Europe
Earlier this month at UMC Utrecht, a patient with advanced heart failure became the first person in Europe to receive a BrioVAD ventricular assist device. The new system is being evaluated in a European study and may offer advantages over the existing ventricular assist device. For UMC Utrecht, the implantation marks a new milestone in a long history of innovation in the field of mechanical circulatory support.

Opening Utrecht Science Week with keynote by Juliette Legler on the hidden influence of environmental chemicals
On Friday, September 25, the annual science festival ‘Utrecht Science Week’ kicks off once again at Utrecht Science Park. We are pleased to announce that this year, Prof. Dr. Ir. Juliette Legler will deliver the Utrecht Science Lecture. Juliette Legler is Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and leads the ‘One Health Toxicology’ group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS).