Meet the Top Science and Innovation Parks in the Netherlands
Forward-thinking companies can take their innovation to the next level and make a global impact through Dutch science and innovation parks
As a hot spot for next-generation innovation, the Netherlands possesses a unique advantage for fueling answers to complex challenges: science and innovation parks. Across industries, Dutch science and innovation parks are engines of research & development, knowledge-sharing and business growth. These campuses enable industry leaders and startups to tap into the Netherlands’ rich research ecosystem and talent pool to address today’s most pressing issues, from health, clean water and food security to sustainability, circular systems and beyond.
The Netherlands’ science and innovation parks exemplify the Dutch “triple helix” approach to collaboration, in which business, government and academia cooperate seamlessly to drive solutions. In addition, government incentives, public-private partnerships and a pipeline of highly skilled talent fuel these parks as R&D powerhouses of tomorrow.
The Netherlands boasts leading innovation parks dedicated to driving sector-specific innovation. The 14 in this blog are just the tip of the iceberg: other campuses include WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, Chemport Europe in Delfzijl, Brainport Industries Campus in Eindhoven, Automotive Campus in Helmond, Dutch Innovation Park in Zoetermeer, South Holland, Pivot Park in Oss and Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, to name a few. Across the country, these parks provide industry know-how, thriving research communities and world-class facilities to enable cutting-edge R&D.
Read on to discover how the Netherlands’ leading science and innovation parks can provide your business with advantages that will transform how you innovate. We’ve lined them up in alphabetical order.
Amsterdam Science Park
Minutes from the Dutch capital’s city center, Amsterdam Science Park focuses on “high-potential progress” in four key areas: AI & digital innovation, sustainability, life sciences & health and high-tech systems & materials. With the goal of unifying research and business, this science park strives to make it as easy as possible for companies to translate innovative research and scientific knowledge into products. The park’s office spaces, co-creation facilities and custom-built business premises ensure your business has the facilities to develop fundamental solutions to modern-day challenges.
The University of Amsterdam and Amsterdam University College provide the park’s residents with an ever-growing stream of well-educated talent and in-house, world-class research institutes, such as the QuSoft Research Center for Quantum Software. Amsterdam Science Park offers premiere opportunities for ICT, life sciences, sustainable chemistry and advanced instrumentation R&D and is home to the largest data transport hub in the world, the AMS-IX.
Chemelot and Maastricht Health (Brightlands)
The Brightlands network consists of four campuses in the Limburg region, each with a unique focus. Chemelot, specializing in chemicals, performance materials, biomedical solutions and sustainable processes, and Maastricht Health, focusing on healthcare, medicine and bio-science, are both considered leading Dutch campuses. Rounding out the four, Greenport Venlo specializes in healthy nutrition, future farming and biocircular economy, while Smart Services focuses on artificial intelligence, data science and digital services.
Put together, the Brightlands Campuses accommodate nearly thousands of entrepreneurs, researchers and students. Countless Dutch and international companies participate in the Brightlands community, including Aduro Clean Technologies, Itero, Coolbrook, BASF and Lonza/Moderna. With access to state-of-the-art R&D facilities, meeting spaces and workplaces, these businesses work together toward sustainability, health and digitalization solutions.
As a hub for circularity, Brightlands is the place for companies to bring smart, sustainable materials, technologies, and processes to market. World-class research institutes, including the Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials and Chemelot Institute for Science and Technology, aid in this specialized R&D.
Amsterdam Life Sciences District
The Amsterdam Life Sciences District is a vibrant innovation hub, supporting life sciences companies and employees, as well as medical students, doctors and startups. Fueled by the ambition to improve global health, this district serves as a global nexus for life sciences & health collaboration close to Amsterdam University Medical Center. Here, companies specializing in medtech, e-health and gene therapy – such as Cytek Biosciences – coexist with leading academic institutions dedicated to tackling diseases ranging from cardiovascular ailments to oncology, neurology and immunology.
The heart of this thriving ecosystem is the Amsterdam Health & Technology Institute (AHTI). AHTI propels the district forward, helping to shape the future of healthcare and medical technology globally. The Amsterdam Life Sciences District is well-equipped for companies looking to grow in the Dutch life sciences & health ecosystem.
Campus Groningen
Campus Groningen provides companies with a creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem, centered around advancements in healthy aging, sustainability and renewable energy. Located in one of the ‘youngest’ Dutch cities by demographics, and close to the University of Groningen and Hanze University of Applied Sciences, this park provides a steady stream of highly educated talent.
Groningen’s collaborative ecosystem, strengthened by government and academic support, facilitates the campus’s “Smart Start” ethos. Companies can access the multidisciplinary knowledge necessary to jump-start endeavors at Campus Groningen and its associated campuses, including the Healthy Ageing Campus and Zernike Campus. From science and engineering to humanities and law, Campus Groningen’s R&D capabilities connect fundamental technical science with societal progress.
High Tech Campus Eindhoven
Located in the “smartest square kilometer in Europe,” High Tech Campus Eindhoven in North Brabant features an ecosystem of high-tech companies and innovators, researchers and engineers. Companies at High Tech Campus Eindhoven, such as WEB•N•TECH and Evreka, are bound by a common goal: to develop and bring to market advanced technology that answers society’s biggest challenges.
Five key areas drive this innovation campus’s R&D efforts: health & vitality, sustainable energy & storage, smart environments & connectivity, applied intelligence and software & platforms. With available office, lab and industrial space and access to world-class research institutes like the Holst Centre, Solliance or EIT Digital, innovators can hit the ground running in High Tech Campus Eindhoven. In fact, companies on this campus are responsible for nearly 40% of all Dutch patent applications.
Kennispark Twente
As a highly competitive innovation park in the Netherlands, Kennispark Twente is where science becomes business. Kennispark Twente is closely linked to the University of Twente in Enschede. Considered the Netherlands’ most entrepreneurial university, the University of Twente has produced hundreds of spin-off and high-tech companies. This campus’ highly entrepreneurial ecosystem drives innovation for companies like Innovation Sprint and E Green Global to create and productize technologies of the future.
Specializing in medical technology, semiconductors, robotics, advanced manufacturing, materials and digital transformation, this park offers the perfect environment for successful innovation. In addition to the University of Twente, Kennispark Twente entrepreneurs have access to 10 dynamic research institutes, including MESA+, one of the largest nanotechnology institutes in the world, and the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform, designed to strengthen industrial manufacturing innovation.
Leiden Bio Science Park
As the largest life sciences campus in the Netherlands, Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP) builds connections between talent, researchers and entrepreneurs to make the world healthier. For decades, innovative companies, research institutes and university partners have collaborated at LBSP to advance critical life sciences R&D. Today, LBSP houses innovative life sciences & health companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Avantor, Nikon and MIDA Biotech.
Harnessing the power of five critical themes – knowledge, innovation, human capital, financial capital and the market – companies at LBSP collaborate with bright minds at research institutes like Leiden University and TNO to develop innovative drug treatments, vaccines, diagnostics and medical platform technologies.
NL Space Campus
The NL Space Campus is the Netherlands’ premier aerospace R&D community. Known as the “Dutch Gateway to Space,” the NL Space Campus provides companies with the right networks, facilities, capital, knowledge and talent to advance space innovation. The NL Space Campus facilitates collaboration between businesses and academic/research institutes, from the universities of Leiden, Delft and Erasmus to SRON, TNO, NLR and KNMI.
The Galileo Reference Center and ESA ESTEC are central to the campus’s entrepreneurial impact, employing many high-tech professionals. From office space and meeting rooms to world-class testing facilities, NL Space Campus’s research resources and specialized communities ensure meaningful connections aimed at creating the future of space innovation.
Noviotech Campus
Founded with the aspiration of becoming a capital of health and high-tech innovation, Noviotech Campus is home to dozens of companies and thousands of employees. From Odyssey Europe to Mini-Circuits, global innovators make their home at Noviotech Campus. Across critical sectors such as semiconductors, radio frequency, chip integration, biotechnology, digital health and medical technology, companies at Noviotech Campus work together to create a healthier, smarter and more sustainable world.
This campus has rich partnerships with nearby research institutes, including Health Valley, High Tech NL, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Radboud University and Radboudumc. These partnerships enrich businesses’ ability to positively impact their respective fields. With more than a dozen buildings, companies have the space and resources they need to dream big.
TU Delft Campus
TU Delft Campus, powered by the world-leading Delft University of Technology, is a hub of innovation and technological advancement. It boasts a high density of field labs and a strong startup community which has produced hundreds of companies. The campus is at the forefront of shaping the future in robotics, quantum technology, health technology and the energy transition. It hosts YES!Delft, one of Europe’s leading tech incubators, alongside industry-specific communities like RoboHouse, the Aerospace Innovation Hub and Quantum Delft.
The campus provides state-of-the-art facilities for scale-ups, SMEs and large companies, creating an ecosystem conducive to growth and collaboration. Prominent companies like Bluefors and research organizations like TNO leverage cutting-edge resources in this campus’s vibrant community. This environment fosters groundbreaking R&D, positioning TU Delft Campus as a critical player in the global technology landscape.
TU Eindhoven
TU Eindhoven is the beating heart of the world-renowned Brainport high-tech ecosystem. Here, companies collaborate closely with students and researchers in cutting-edge fields like photonics, quantum technology, AI, smart materials and renewable energy systems. This synergy fosters innovation and drives advancements in diverse areas of technology.
TU Eindhoven’s campus offers unparalleled access to the entire Brainport network and ample development space, providing an ideal environment for growth and innovation. In fact, most graduating TU/e engineers find employment with companies in the region, highlighting the strong integration between the university and local industry. This close-knit collaboration ensures a continuous flow of talent and ideas, cementing TU Eindhoven’s role as a cornerstone of technological progress in the region and world.
Utrecht Science Park
Utrecht Science Park focuses on three core themes: health, sustainability and society. The park is home to dozens of companies and students from Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht and HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. In the health sector, companies can collaborate with the Princess Maxima Center, UMC Utrecht and other institutes to pursue clinical and applied research for cancer treatment, infectious disease, stem cell therapy and more.
Utrecht Science Park also emphasizes sustainability, covering renewable energy, agrifood, clean fuels and water systems. The park enables companies like NanoCell Therapeutics, Genmab and ImmunoPrecise to foster positive societal impact through collaboration with knowledge institutions. It provides startups, growing businesses and large, established companies with access to state-of-the-art facilities as well as research institutes like Deltares and the Hubrecht Institute.
Wageningen Campus
Wageningen Campus is a thriving innovation hub where students and researchers from Wageningen University and nearby research institutes collaborate with startups, SMEs and global companies like Unilever and Kalsec on R&D operations. This dynamic environment drives new developments across diverse fields.
Renowned as a world-leading location for agrifood innovation, the campus focuses on sustainable and healthy food, food production, the bio-based economy and a healthy living environment. Wageningen Campus assists companies with building new research facilities or renting office and lab space in multi-tenant buildings on campus. The presence of world-class research institutes, such as the One Planet Research Center and MARIN, further enhances this campus’s status as a premier innovation hub.
Shape the future with the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, science and innovation parks serve as hubs for companies to tap into top-notch talent, state-of-the-art facilities and vibrant knowledge communities that share a common goal of tackling global challenges.
The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and the Invest in Holland network are here to connect your business with the right campus for your ambitions and support you in establishing operations in the Netherlands. Contact us for more information about joining the dynamic Dutch ecosystem of innovation.
6 June 2024