Utrecht Science Park partners launch digital platform for laboratory materials
Thursday 21 November is a digital platform for laboratory materials has been symbolically launched. It’s called the “Laboratory Exchange platform Utrecht Science Park” (LABEX USP). LABEX USP is an application that makes supply and demand visible, enables transfer (free, sale, rental or shared use) of these materials and facilitates more ciculair use of laboratory materials. From January 1st 2025, LABEX USP will start with a 3-month pilot in which some partners will do a test run. Afterwards, the application will be available to all research and educational institutions based at Utrecht Science Park.
The platform is an initiative of Wim de Leeuw from Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. During a ‘hackathon’ in the Utrecht Science Week on making labs at Utrecht Science Park more sustainable, a group emerged from the various partners to actively engage in this initiative.
The launch of the platform LABEX USP was at the office of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation with the symbolic unveiling of a microscope, the first product that will be offered on the platform. Wim de Leeuw stated: “The Utrecht Science Park has a large number of laboratories containing a very large amount of equipment, chemicals and disposables, which is used intensively. But if this is not (or no longer) the case because, for example, a project is completed or more modern equipment is acquired for a specific study, this equipment can still be very useful for fellow researchers or partners. However, people are now often unaware of its presence.”
Partners at Utrecht Science Park are very happy with this initiative. Josefien Kursten (member of the Executive Board UMC Utrecht) says: “We are very happy with this initiative, as it contributes to more circularity, less waste and lower costs for researchers in health and life sciences.” Gita Gallé (member of the Board of Directors Princess Máxima Center): “This is a great idea. This supply and demand platform for laboratory materials fits perfectly with the ideas and plans we have at Prinses Máxima Centrum, such as our LEAF project. And I believe it fits also with the ambitions of all partners at the Utrecht Science Park.”
The development of this application is a good example of cooperation at the Utrecht Science Park between various knowledge institutions, research institutes and companies.
More information about the launch will follow in the coming months.
Questions and contact
If you have any specific questions related to the organisations of the pilot, please contact the following persons:
• Utrecht University (Faculty of Geosciences): Boaz Chemtob.
• Utrecht University (Faculty of Science): Greta Di Marco, Mies Steenbergen.
• Utrecht University (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine): Wim de Leeuw.
• UMC Utrecht: Joep Sprangers, Kelly Nijhof.
• Princess Maxima Center: Joost Bennekers.
• HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht: Mieke Smits, Rick Claessens.
For more information or any general questions please contact: greenteam.dgk@uu.nl.
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