UtrechtInc startups win big at the Philips Innovation Awards
It was a remarkable evening of innovation and entrepreneurship, with UtrechtInc startups taking the spotlight during the 20th edition of the Philips Innovation Award Grand Final.
At Theater Rotterdam, eight promising student-led startups competed live for the most prestigious student entrepreneurship award in the Netherlands: the Philips Innovation Award. In front of a packed audience and a jury of leading industry figures, including Philips CEO Roy Jakobs, two groundbreaking innovations from the UtrechtInc community took home top honors:
Innovator Award – Lumox, for their light-activated cancer therapy that targets tumors with high precision, reducing the need for invasive surgeries.
Rough Diamond Award – I See U Baby Care, with an AI-powered monitoring system that improves the sleep of premature babies, offering support to both families and hospital staff.
In addition to the pitches, the audience was inspired by talks from speakers such as Ali Niknam (bunq), Eline van Beest (Hybridize Therapeutics), and Joost Smit (Google).
It was especially inspiring to see female founders like Chanel Sam and Irati Beltrán Hernández leading the way and making a strong impact with their innovative solutions.
These achievements highlight the strength of young, innovative entrepreneurs at the Utrecht Science Park, where science and entrepreneurship come together to tackle major societal challenges. Together we strive towards a healthy, sustainable society.
Living Lab in the Spotlight: Utrecht Science Park
Utrecht Science Park is home to several living labs focused on energy and circularity. These include Lumifield, which explores the generation and storage of solar energy, and the biogas digester, which uses organic waste as an energy source. On their own, these are already promising initiatives. Connected, they could become something much bigger: a functioning, learning model for a circular campus.
From student idea during challenge to ReGreen Hut at Dutch Design Week
On hot summer days, temperatures can rise significantly at Utrecht Science Park, while students are looking for places to study, relax and find some shade outdoors. At the same time, planting trees is not always straightforward: underground, the campus is crisscrossed by a dense network of cables and utility lines. So how can we create shade, greenery and places to relax without major changes to the ground?
Utrecht Science Week kicks off: social and economic impact of Utrecht Science Park in the spotlight
The sixth edition of Utrecht Science Week takes place from Friday, 25 September to Sunday, 4 October. During this time, Utrecht Science Park opens its doors to the general public, showcasing how research, innovation, and collaboration lead to tangible societal and economic impact. At the same time, the week underscores the importance of sustained investment in knowledge and innovation.
Looking back at Utrecht Science Week: research, education, and entrepreneurship in the spotlight
Utrecht Science Week 2026 has come to a close. For over a week, visitors enjoyed workshops, lectures, group discussions, and tours focused on science and innovation at Utrecht Science Park. With more than thirty program activities across over 25 locations, there were ample opportunities to experience science up close. We look back on a fantastic week that once again highlighted the essential role of collaboration, and the combination of research, education, and entrepreneurship, in addressing the societal challenges of our time.