The fourth edition of Utrecht Science Week starts today!
The Utrecht Science Week starts today. Until Sunday 6 October, the doors of the Utrecht Science Park will be wide open. Are you interested in (applied) science? Then be sure to join the event!
At 3:30 pm, the Utrecht Science Week will be officially opened by Jan Henk van der Velden (managing director of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation), Anton Pijpers (chairman of the Executive Board of Utrecht University), Wilma Scholte op Reimer (chairman of the Executive Board of HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht) and Arno Hoes (vice-chairman of the Executive Board of UMC Utrecht), and there will be a preview of the wonderful, innovative week with a well-filled programme around the themes of health and sustainability.
This will be followed by the lecture by Peter Luijten, vice-dean of the Strategic Theme Life Sciences (Utrecht University). As part of his farewell, he will give a lecture ‘From science to impact: Utrecht Life Sciences’. Together with talented colleagues from the Life Sciences community, the unique achievements of Utrecht Life Sciences are highlighted and the valuable opportunities for societal impact in the future are previewed.
After the lecture, there will be time to chat and toast to the start of the Utrecht Science Week.
Utrecht Science Week
At the Utrecht Science Park, leading knowledge institutions, research institutes and companies work intensively together to find solutions to major societal issues. During the Utrecht Science Week, these collaborations and pioneering innovations are put in the spotlight. The week offers a varied programme including lectures, tours, dialogue sessions, panel discussions, knowledge markets and more. On topical themes such as preventive healthcare, climate change, animal-free innovation, socially responsible research and regenerative medicine. Subjects on which the Utrecht Science Park is working on a daily basis with combined efforts and with heart and soul.
Registration is still possible for many programme elements. Visit the website.
Utrecht Science Park Summer Café: Farewell to Managing Director Jan Henk van der Velden
On Monday, 6 July, the Utrecht Science Park Summer Café took place at Grand Café Living on Utrecht Science Park. This edition was dedicated to the farewell of Jan Henk van der Velden, Managing Director of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, after nine years in which he played a key role in the development and positioning of the ecosystem.
UMC Utrecht is to get a new main entrance and a green campus park
The north side of UMC Utrecht is set to undergo a major redevelopment in the coming years. Utrecht City Council and the teaching hospital have presented plans for a new main entrance, a central car park and a green reception area designed to improve connections between the hospitals at Utrecht Science Park. The plans have now been submitted to the city council.
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.
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).