IMPROVING HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE

THE WORLD IS CONNECTING

Sol Lumen is an artwork of Yvette Mattern

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE

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IMPROVING HEALTHAND QUALITY OF LIFEThe world is changing faster than ever. Grand societal challenges are complexand often require a multidisciplinary approach. At Utrecht Science Park,universities, research institutes, academic medical centres and commercialcompanies work in concert with regional government to address a number ofthese societal challenges. These include, for example: the ageing population,emerging infectious diseases, cancer, urbanisation, rural living and healthyfarming, food security and safety, social cohesion, security, scarcity of rawmaterials, climate change and dynamics of youth1.

combines brilliant scientists from a wide range ofdisciplines, unique research facilities and a vast potential of young talent tocontribute to solutions to grand societal challenges.

1 How can we help our children to develop into well-balanced individuals ina rapidly changing world?

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EVERY YEAR

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STUDENT HOMESWITH A POTENTIALTO GROW TO 4,000

NEW JOBS IN 5 YEARS

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GOOD HEALTH FOREVERYONEAt USP, 22,000 people work on a daily basis toimprove the health of humans and animals and topromote a healthy and sustainable livingenvironment. Utrecht University, HU University ofApplied Sciences Utrecht and University MedicalCenter Utrecht conduct pioneering fundamental,applied, and translational research in the Sciences,Geosciences and Social Sciences, Medicine, andVeterinary Medicine at Utrecht Science Park. TheUMC Utrecht also provides the best in clinicalresearch and patient care. The various prominentresearch institutes, R&D companies and numerousstart-ups located on-site form a solid foundation forthe daily work to improve the health and quality oflife of this generation and generations to come.

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The European Commission’sEU Regional CompetitivenessIndex 2013 has namedUtrecht as Europe’s mostcompetitive region for thesecond time in a row (2010,2013). The index incorporatesa wide range of issues relatedto competitiveness includinginnovation, quality ofinstitutions, infrastructure(including digital networks)and measures of health andhuman capital.

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Applied Gaming

HealthyUrban Living

Sustainability

Water, Climate &Ecosystems

Future Energy &Resources

Circular Economy

Smart SustainableCities

Public Health

Cancer

Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Healthcare Innovation

Molecular Life Sciences

Life Sciences & Health

STRATEGIC THEMES

DEEP HISTORICAL ROOTS

Three high-quality knowledge institutes are thecornerstones of Utrecht Science Park.

Utrecht UniversityFounded in 1636, Utrecht University started with afew hundred students; Today it is one of the largestuniversities in the Netherlands with seven facultiesand 30,000 students. The University moved toUtrecht Science Park in 1962. Two faculties are stilllocated in the city centre.

The strength of the research carried out at UtrechtUniversity lies in the way different disciplines arecombined and the way academic and social issues areintegrated. Utrecht University focuses on four mainresearch themes: Sustainability, Life Sciences,Institutions and Dynamics of Youth. The Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine at Utrecht University is the onlyplace in the Netherlands where veterinarians aretrained. It is considered one of the leading veterinarymedicine faculties in Europe and is ranked in the topfive worldwide. 7

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University Medical Center UtrechtUniversity Medical Center Utrecht, with the facultyof Medicine founded in 1817, was the first academichospital in the Netherlands and the birthplace ofKing Willem-Alexander. The UMC Utrecht moved toUtrecht Science Park in 1989 and merged in 1999with the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, which wasfounded in 1888.

Research at the UMC Utrecht is concentrated in sixprogrammes: - Brain Center Rudolf Magnus- Infection & Immunity- Center for Circulatory Health- Cancer Center- Child Health- Regenerative Medicine & Stem CellsPatient care is integrated in these programmes. A relentless multidisciplinary approach guaranteespatients benefit from the latest available expertiseand innovative technological solutions.

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HU University of Applied SciencesUtrechtHU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht wasestablished through a merger of several universities ofapplied sciences. It moved to Utrecht Science Park in1990 and is the third largest institution of its kind in theNetherlands with 37,000 students. HU University ofApplied Sciences focuses on four main areas: creativeindustry, sustainable development, healthcare andtechnology, and social innovation at the local level.

These centres of knowledge have contributed to life-changing inventions and brought forth manyreputable scientists, including twelve Nobel Prizewinners. Amongst the latter are theoretical physicistsprofessor Gerardus ’t Hooft and professor MartinusVeltman, who shared the 1999 Nobel Prize in Physics,physician and professor of physiology Christiaan Eijkman(1929), whose work led to the discovery of vitamins,Nicolaas Bloembergen (1981), who laid the groundworkfor the revolutionary NMR technology that is much usedtoday for medical imaging of internal organs and tissues,and Paul Josef Crutzen (1995) who was awarded theNobel Prize in Chemistry for his work predicting theozone hole.

New student complex 'Johanna' (2015) Interior Nutricia Research

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Utrecht Science Park milestones 2011-2018

2011The name UtrechtScience Park comes intoofficial use

First edition ofdeBeschaving festivalheld in the BotanicalGardens

Establishment ofUtrecht SustainabilityInstitute

2012Launch of InternationalSchool Utrecht

Partnership betweenPhilips, EindhovenUniversity of Technology(TU/e), UniversityMedical Center Utrechtand Utrecht University

Opening of The Office:hub for socialentrepreneurship

Founding of StichtingUtrecht Science Parkfoundation (12-12-12)

2013Worldwide launch ofMRI accelerator (jointventure of UniversityMedical Center Utrechtwith Philips and Elekta)

Danone NutriciaResearch opens its doors

New P+R put into use

Survey for satellitelocation of UtrechtScience Park/Bilthoven(RIVM premises)

New Master'sprogramme: ExecutiveMaster of BusinessInnovation &Entrepreneurship in LifeSciences & Health (MBILife Sciences & Health)

Launch of HealthyUrban Living KnowledgeCentre (UtrechtUniversity, TNO,Deltares, RoyalNetherlandsMeteorological Institute(KNMI) and RIVM)

Micreos Human Healthopens in Bilthoven atpremises of BilthovenBiologicals

First Daktuin pop-upgarden, Utrecht

2014RIVM premises in DeBilt purchased byBilthoven Biologicals

Launch of ScienceInc

Complete 3-D printedskull implanted atUniversity MedicalCenter Utrecht

Successful tender forLife Sciences fund incollaboration withEconomic Board Utrechtand the Province ofUtrecht

Foundation of HubrechtOrganoid Technology

First Facility trackprogramme formanagers of researchfacilities

New CollectiveEnvironmentalLaboratory (UtrechtUniversity, TNO andDeltares) put into use

375-year anniversary ofthe Botanical Gardens

NEST: experimentalretail formula withRabobank Utrecht, Corioand Soon

2015Establishment of USPentrepreneurs'association

New student complex,'Johanna'

Second Life SciencesIncubator

New education centrefor Sciences andGeosciences

Expansion of HubrechtInstitute

Launch of RegenerativeMedicine Center Utrecht

Launch of firstInternational Master ofBiofabrication

Utrecht BiofabricationFacility put into use

Cipla opens in Bilthovenat the premises ofBilthoven Biologicals

Start of Tour de France,partly through UtrechtScience Park

First Utrecht SciencePark Marathon (22March 2015)

2016New construction forGenmab ResearchCenter

Renovation of buildingsHU University of AppliedSciences

380th Anniversary ofUtrecht University

100th Anniversary ofHubrecht Institute

55th Anniversary ofUtrecht SciencePark/De Uithof campus

2017Opening of PrincessMaxima Centre forPediatric Oncology

New construction forHU University of AppliedSciences

New construction forFaculty of Geosciences

2018Launch of tram linkbetween Utrecht CentralStation – UtrechtScience Park

Arrival of RIVM andMedicines EvaluationBoard (CBG) at USP

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Artist impression RIVM. Design: clausvanwageningen

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Utrecht Life SciencesUtrecht Life Sciences is an open innovationnetwork that facilitates strategic public-privatepartnerships in education, research andbusiness. Its main goal is to drive innovations inhuman and veterinary health care. Utrecht LifeSciences creates shared value for its partnerswhile simultaneously providing economic andsocietal benefit.

PIONEERS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE

Science for Life – Studying the buildingblocks of lifeWithin the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University,several institutes conduct fundamental andtranslational research in the 'Molecular LifeSciences'. Scientists of these institutes unravel themysteries of the molecular foundations of life andgenerate knowledge to combat diseases such ascancer and immune disorders. More specifically,they make an endeavor to understand how cells,the smallest units of life, use molecules for thebenefit of their life functions. This research is adriving force of Utrecht Life Sciences activities thatcover the entire spectrum, from genes andmolecules to population. In order to show how biological processes in theliving organisms actually work, the most advancedtechniques are being used. They range from light-and electron microscopes for studying cells, massspectrometers for mapping out proteins, to X-ray

technology and NMR spectroscopy for zooming in onthe atomic level. With the help of these techniques,life can be carefully mapped out at any level: frome.g. entire brain cells to transport mechanisms insidea cell and the structure of proteins.

Combat infections and inflammation The Public Health domain covers the topics OneHealth, Cardiovascular Research, Food and Healthand Translational Neuroscience. The common focus in these topics is the role of microbes andinflammation or in other words ‘infections &immunity’, as the major determinants of health anddisease. Emerging infections caused by viruses thatare transfected from animals to humans can causea pandemic. Due to the excessive use of antibioticsin the feed and food chains, pathogens arebecoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics,leaving us with little treatment options. Microbialinfection and subsequent inflammation areincreasingly recognised as major determinants ofhealth and disease in humans and animals. Severaldiseases that were previously thought to be solelysubject to genetic control, are now recognised to be 13

also influenced by environmental factors, includingfood and pathogens. This calls for a differentresearch strategy and opens up new perspectivesfor therapy and intervention.

Saving the lives of billions in the event of a pandemicOne Health is a truly unique programme, in whichhuman medicine and veterinary medicine workclosely together to fight zoonoses: infectious diseasesthat are transferable between humans and animals.“Seventy-five percent of all new virus infections comefrom animals,” says professor Anton Pijpers, formerdean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and nowVice-President of the Executive Board of UtrechtUniversity. “The Spanish flu, which killed millions in1918-1919, was such a devastating zoonosis.” TheNetherlands Centre for One Health (NCOH) focuses

on Infection & Immunity (existing and emerginginfectious diseases), Antimicrobial Resistance,Healthy Farming and Wildlife & Ecosystems.

The centre pursues fundamental research anddevelops know-how in the domains of life sciences,medicine, veterinary medicine, animal sciences andenvironmental sciences with the aim of improvingsocietal preparedness against future One Healthrisks. Multidisciplinary and multisectoral in scope,these activities span areas such as vaccinetechnology, new antimicrobial drugs, (molecular)epidemiological models for decision frameworks,healthy rural living concepts, innovative feed andfoods and early warning and monitoringinfrastructures. Insights from the fields of veterinarymedicine and agro sciences are used as a source ofinnovation for human medicine, and vice versa.At Utrecht Science Park everybody joins forces tostop future outbreaks of zoonotic diseases like Ebola,Q fever, bird flu and rabies. Their ground-breakingresearch could help save the lives of billions in theevent of a pandemic.

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“75% of all new virus infectionscome from animals. The Spanish flu,which killed millions in 1918-1919,was such a devastating zoonosis.”

Ebola virus

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Bringing health through food A healthy diet is key to promoting good health. At Nutricia Research, scientific know-how is put touse on products for people with special nutritionalneeds such as small children, pregnant and nursingwomen, the elderly and patients. University MedicalCenter Utrecht, Utrecht University and HUUniversity of Applied Sciences Utrecht are closelyinvolved in the development of new concepts andthe translation of new solutions into products andservices. The nutritional products developed atUtrecht Science Park are used by consumers andpatients all over the world.

Future Food Utrecht provides an integratedapproach to address the development ofsustainable future food concepts that have positivehealth effects and are acceptable and accessible forthe human population. It is an unique combinationof expertise from several of Utrecht University’sfaculties, the University Medical Center Utrecht andaccompanying industry. They join their fundamentaland strategic research to develop new sustainableconcepts for future food production, for design of

“Our location at Utrecht SciencePark in proximity to our partnerssupports our R&D activities invarious ways. In collaboration, we reach a critical mass that is

important to create longer-termexpertise in a specific area, for

example the connectionbetween the gut and the brainthrough the immune system.

It also makes it easier for us toinvolve bright students and freshoutside ideas into our research

programmes.”JOHAN GARSSEN IS PROFESSOR AT UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

AND PLATFORM DIRECTOR AT NUTRICIA RESEARCH16

healthy food and for smart decisions in foodbehaviour.Future Food Utrecht collaborates with private andpublic partners like Nutricia Research, RIVM, TNO,Immuno Valley, Bilthoven Biologicals, Unilever,Philips and Friesland Campina.

Curing CancerAt Utrecht Science Park the Cancer domain coversthe entire value chain from genes to population. Thisincludes research on molecules and stem cells thatplay a role in the development of cancer, a uniqueComparative Oncology programme of the Schools ofMedicine and Veterinary Medicine, image-guidedtherapies and personalised cancer treatment. Theestablishment of a biobank with organ-like tissues(organoids) developed from stem cells of healthy andtumour tissues enables the development ofindividual treatment programmes in the future. Theestablishment of the Princess Maxima Centre forPediatric Oncology in collaboration with theWilhelmina Children’s Hospital, position Utrecht as amajor European centre for cancer research,diagnosis and treatment.

Personalised Cancer Care Cancer is a very heterogeneous group of diseaseswith multiple genetic variations. There is no suchthing as a typical cancer patient. For this reason,developing customised cancer treatments is a keyfocus at Utrecht Science Park. Personalised CancerCare, a unique tumour treatment based on geneticprofiling, is one example of this. After all, eachpatient is unique, and so is each tumour. In Utrecht,Personalised Cancer Care is focused on breast,stomach, intestinal and liver cancer.

From 75% to 95% curing rate of children with cancerEvery year, about 500 children in the Netherlandsare diagnosed with cancer. By putting together allexpertise, care and research in one medical centre,the cure rate of children with cancer is estimated toincrease from 75% to 95%.Doctors and parents have taken the initiative tocreate a single specialist hospital and researchinstitute for pediatric oncology: the PrincessMaxima Centre (PMC). The PMC has started in 2015in an existing building; the new proprietary building 17

at Utrecht Science Park will be ready in 2017.Built onto the existing Wilhelmina Children’sHospital, the PMC will share many important andcostly facilities, including operating rooms. This willcreate not only a major hospital, but also a largeresearch centre. On top of that, knowledge andexpertise from the Hubrecht Institute, theUniversity Medical Center Utrecht, NutriciaResearch and Utrecht University are to be foundwithin a radius of a hundred metres.The PMC will become the largest healthcare andresearch centre in the field of pediatric cancer in Europe.

Simultaneous imaging and radiation In Utrecht, a new cancer treatment involvingsimultaneous imaging and radiation of tumours has been developed in partnership with industry.The advantage of this approach is that much lessdamage is done to the surrounding tissue and it isextremely precise; imaging of the tumour takesplace in real-time during radiation. ‘Operatingwithout incisions’ in this way means the patientreceives customized treatment with better clinical18

Princess Maxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology (artist impression)

MRI accelerator ©Philips

outcome and also experiences less discomfort. These new MRI-guided cancer treatments are beinginvestigated and developed within the Centre forImage-guided Oncological Interventions in closecollaboration with the departments of Radiotherapyand Radiology of University Medical Center Utrechtand their industrial partners Philips and Elekta. Theprototype of the integrated MRI radiotherapyaccelerator is unique in the world.

Restoring tissue

Growing organs from stem cellsRecently Hans Clevers, professor of moleculargenetics at the University Medical Center Utrecht,and at the Hubrecht Institute, and former Presidentof the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts andSciences, discovered that organs such as the gutcontain stem cells that enable the constantregeneration of new tissue. His group thendeveloped a method to isolate the stem cells fromdifferent organs and grow them in the laboratory.The structures that are generated, so-called‘organoids’, mimic the original tissue to a large

degree. This extraordinary discovery has hugeimplications for scientific research and medicine.For this reason the Hubrecht Institute and theUniversity Medical Center Utrecht are closelycollaborating to implement the technology. Inaddition, they have set up the spin off foundationHubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB) to furtherdevelop the technology in collaboration with thepharmaceutical industry and medical centres.

The possibility to regenerate damaged organs haslong been medical science fiction, however over the last two decades great advances were madewith the discovery of different stem cell populationsand methods to grow them. Regenerative MedicineCenter Utrecht brings together fundamental,translational and clinical scientists from HubrechtInstitute, University Medical Center Utrecht andUtrecht University. The purpose is to create newmomentum in the field of regenerative medicineand stem cell-based therapies based on the recentfinding at these institutes. Organoids derived from healthy tissues have great potential for a regenerative clinical application. 19

UTRECHT SCIENCE PARKCOMBINES BRILLIANTSCIENTISTS FROM A WIDERANGE OF DISCIPLINES

Organoids

Artist impression National Institute for Public Health and the Environment Design: clausvanwageningen

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“We use the new discovery to grow liver organoidsin our laboratories from stem cells. Within a fewyears we expect to use this technology to treatsevere liver disorders,” says Edward Nieuwenhuis,professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology. The organoids technology has received a lot ofnational and international interest and recognition.For instance in 2014, the technology was recognisedas a National Icon by the Dutch Government.According to Minister Henk Kamp of EconomicAffairs: “The technology for the identification andinfinite reproduction of stem cells is unique in theworld. This innovation has tremendous significancefrom both a social and an economic perspective.The Hubrecht Institute has proven thatentrepreneurship and knowledge can bring aboutimportant innovations.”

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An inspiring environment“Utrecht Science Park is an inspiringenvironment dominated by the key valuesof excellent research, valorisation andinnovation. This is an ideal setting for theNational Institute for Public Health andthe Environment (RIVM) and theMedicines Evaluation Board (CBG/MEB),which will move there in 2018. After all,our focus has always been on innovationand the newest insights. In fact we arealready cooperating with many partners atUtrecht Science Park. CBG/MEB andRIVM hope that Utrecht Science Park willevolve into an environment characterisedby a symbiotic and mutually inspiringdialogue between governmentalorganisations and knowledge institutions.”

PROF. ANDRÉ VAN DER ZANDE, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF RIVM

PROF. BERT LEUFKENS, CHAIRMAN OF CBG/MEB

Foundation Hubrecht Organoid Technology(HUB) - A living biobank that helps beat cancerThe first application that is pursued by thefoundation Hubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB)and its partners Hubrecht Institute and UniversityMedical Center Utrecht is the generation of abiobank of patient-derived organoids of a variety ofdiseases. For example, when these organoids arederived from a tumour, they maintain the individualcharacteristics of the disease in cell culture. Thisbiobank can therefore be used as a screening toolfor preclinical drug discovery and drugdevelopment by the scientific community as well asthe pharmaceutical industry. The preclinical testingof anticancer medicines using this approach allowsmore accurate predictions with regard to theefficacy and safety of drugs in subpopulations ofcancer patients. The approach significantlyenhances the possibilities to design individualcancer therapy with a more favourable outcome.A second application is the use of organoids fordetermining the response of individual patients to a treatment in the clinic. Together with the UMCUtrecht and other national and international 23

MBI Life Sciences & HealthThe Executive Master of Business Innovation andEntrepreneurship in Life Sciences & Health is a twelve-month on-the-job learning programme in whichentrepreneurs in Life Sciences & Health work towardsaccelerating the growth of their own venture on aglobal scale. The programme is the initiative of acoalition of well-known Dutch, Belgian and NorthAmerican research institutes.

hospitals HUB is validating the use of organoids topredict clinical outcome. In addition to cancer, theorganoids can be used for a variety of otherdiseases. Recently, HUB and Wilhelmina Children’sHospital have made great advances using thistechnology also for Cystic Fibrosis (CF), whichenables the development of effective treatments forthis debilitating disease.

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Personalised CancerCare enables more

effective treatment withless side effects

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3-D printing of tissue To strengthen the collaboration between fundamental,translational and clinical scientists, Utrecht LifeSciences has established the Utrecht BiofabricationFacility that will be housed in the Utrecht Center forRegenerative Medicine in 2015. This high-tech facility isone-of-a-kind in the world and can print pre-definedtissue structures layer by layer using living cells.Through this facility, the center aims to accelerate thedevelopment of emerging biofabrication technologiesfor the development, evaluation and clinical translationof 3-D tissue constructions. By bridging expertise inmaterial sciences and regenerative medicine,translational research is performed with an emphasison stem cell-based therapies, musculoskeletal tissueregeneration and cardiovascular tissue regeneration.Scientists at the center are cooperating in an alliancewith the Eindhoven University of Technology tostrengthen their educational programmes andaccelerate innovation in regenerative medicine.Together with sister institutes in Australia andGermany, Utrecht University and University MedicalCenter Utrecht have established the first internationalMaster’s programme on Biofabrication.

Improving the healthcare systemThe Utrecht region represents a concentratedcluster of patients’ and healthcare organisations,research institutes and companies that togetheraim to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness ofhealthcare. Key topics are Self-Management, ActiveAging & Long-Term Care, Healing Environments andSerious Gaming. Self-management andpersonalised care are key concepts in a modernvision of citizen participation in healthcare. Appliedin the right way, healthcare innovations in theseareas can lead to better participation and betterhealthcare resulting in an improved quality of life,increased labour productivity and reducedhealthcare costs. The aim is to improve thesustainability and efficacy of the healthcare systemand to enhance the competitiveness of healthcarebusinesses.

3Rs-Centre stimulates the developmentof 3Rs-methodsAnimals used for scientific procedures are a moraldilemma in society and science, especially involving ethicalconsiderations. Unfortunately, in many research areasanimal experiments are conducted because no alternativesare available (yet). But the use of animals always requiresjustification and researchers and other parties must weighthe interests of society (i.e. treatment for a disease)compared to the interests of the animal (i.e. not to be usedin a painful experiment). It is the responsibility of theresearcher to handle the animals carefully and to developanimal-free methods or to use these methods whenavailable to answer the research question.

The 3Rs-Centre ULS stimulates the development,acceptation and implementation of 3Rs-methods(Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animalexperiments), by advising and giving information toresearchers. Public is informed about animal experiments,the 3Rs and the latest developments in this field. Thecentre also participates in the course Laboratory AnimalScience and relevant master programmes, aimed foranyone interested in setting up animal experiments.

Utrecht Sustainability InstituteThe Utrecht Sustainability Institute (USI) is a leadingnetwork organisation on sustainability in theUtrecht region. By connecting local expertise andsolutions to regional sustainability ambitions, USIhelps solve complex issues in an integrated mannerin close collaboration with knowledge institutions,government, industry and civil-societyorganisations. With its partners, USI aims to findoptimal solutions to the increasing number ofproblems in the field of sustainability. The core ofUSI’s mission is to support the transition tosustainable urban regions in the Netherlands andabroad, with a focus on connecting research,innovation and entrepreneurship.

Sustainable Energy Lab on the roof of HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht.

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HEALTHY URBAN LIVING

Healthy Urban Living is about creating healthy andsustainable living environments in urban areas. Assuch, it combines the two key focal points ofUtrecht Science Park: sustainability, and lifesciences & health. This combination of urbanplanning issues and the health and well-being ofresidents is unique. The question concerns how we can contribute tohealthy living for both current and futuregenerations, as well as aid the transition from‘sickness care’ to ‘health care’, i.e. keeping healthypeople healthy.

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“We can predict earthquakes, we knowwhat the effects of global warming willbe and we can tell where there will bewater shortages and floods. We canpredict this with a probability of 50 to60%. Our social geographers conductresearch on Healthy Cities: how can wecreate cities that are healthy andsustainable? This knowledge is exportedto China and other countries, where it is implemented in many polluted cities.Together with the University, TNO andDeltares we’ve built a joint environmentallaboratory. The fact that we are allcombining our knowledge at USP makesthis an exciting and dynamic place to be,with everything located within walkingdistance.”PROF. RONALD VAN KEMPEN, URBAN GEOGRAPHER AND

FORMER DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF GEOSCIENCES

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Healthy living in a healthy city –Utrecht UniversityHow healthy is it to live in a large, densely-populated city? Researchers are currentlyinvestigating ways to improve the health of citiesand their residents. “Large cities can cause healthproblems that are not always immediately evident;there is a diverse range of residents and they areusually strangers to one another, making it easy for urbanites to feel lonely”, says Prof. Martin Dijst.“People can no longer feel at home in their own city, which can cause stress. Cities are also full ofunhealthy temptations that are very visible. Thereare hamburger places on every corner, but healthyfood is difficult to come by. And although publictransport is very accessible, cycling or walking ismuch healthier. But cities are just the places thatoffer the potential for healthy living, and thesepossibilities are the ones we plan to investigate.”

Healthy Urban Living Knowledge Centre(KC HUL)The Healthy Urban Living Knowledge Centreprovides integrated expertise and a joint knowledgeinfrastructure for the set-up and furtherdevelopment of healthy and sustainable livingenvironments in urban areas. The centre is madeup of five well-known knowledge institutes, alllocated on or close to Utrecht Science Park: theNetherlands Organisation for Applied ScientificResearch (TNO), the National Institute for PublicHealth and the Environment (RIVM), UtrechtUniversity (UU), the Royal NetherlandsMeteorological Institute (KNMI) and Deltares.

HOW CAN WE CREATECITIES THAT ARE HEALTHY

AND SUSTAINABLE?

WATER, CLIMATE & ECOSYSTEMS

Water has proven to be a constant factor in termsof influencing the climate and its effect on theplanet. Researchers from Utrecht are investigatingthe interaction between oceans, ice caps andecosystems, including the quality and availability ofour drinking water.

Groundwater extraction – Utrecht UniversityNon-sustainable groundwater sustaining irrigationUsing a global hydrological model and statistics,scientists of Utrecht University have determinedhow much more groundwater is being used forirrigation than naturally becomes available via rain,lakes and reservoirs. This quantity is notsustainable. Research has shown thatapproximately 20% of water used globally forirrigation is derived in a non-sustainable manner,and that the amount of non-sustainablegroundwater extracted has tripled since 1960. 32

This leads to depletion of groundwater reserves in many parts of the world. Nowadays, more andmore food is being produced using water that willeither run out in the foreseeable future, or isbecoming increasingly difficult to access. Add tothat a growing world populatio”n that is partlydependent on this food production chain, and foodshortages may ultimately result.

Thawing Antarctic ice caps dependenton ice plates – Utrecht UniversityClimate scientists from Utrecht University havedemonstrated that no part of the enormousAntarctic ice cap is safe from rising oceantemperatures. “In our study we calculated that, by the time ice leaves the continent and breaks off as an iceberg at the front, around half of the iceunderneath has already been melted away by theocean”, says Michiel van den Broeke, professor ofPolar Meteorology at Utrecht University. “Thismeans that the thickness of many of these iceplates is sensitive to small variations in oceantemperature.”

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Green Pharmacy – UMC Utrecht/Utrecht UniversityThe international project titled ‘Source OrientedSolutions for Pharma-pollution by Hospitals’(SOSPharmaH) aims to prevent or reduceenvironmental pollution caused by medicineresidue in the air, water or in waste. A comprehensive approach is being developedinvolving the entire medicine supply chain, fromdevelopers, prescribers and users to watertechnologists. Various parties are involved,including Utrecht University and the UniversityMedical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht). The UMCUtrecht is an important link in the chain, and mayplay a significant part in rendering the use ofmedicine more sustainable (social responsibility in medicine use). It has initiated the following sub-projects:• An awareness campaign in healthcare andeducation;

• Prevention of medicine wastage;• Promotion of more sustainable medicines; and• Technological measures for removing medicineresidue from waste water.34

Biowashing machine – Municipality of Utrecht/HU University of AppliedSciences Utrecht/Deltares/UtrechtUniversityThe Utrecht Biowashing Machine is theNetherlands' contribution to the EuropeanCityChlor project, which aims to apply an integrated,area-based approach to improving the quality of thesoil and groundwater.This invention from Utrecht is an ingenious systemfor decontaminating the soil in and around theUtrecht station area. The Biowashing Machine putsan end to fragmented ground sanitation, whichinvolves cleaning each building site separately.Thermal energy storage systems beneath the citycentre are used to distribute contaminatedgroundwater, so that it mixes with natural bacteriathat break down pollutants. The bacteria are furthernurtured through the addition of nutrients and byraising the water temperature. In the same way thata washing machine mixes dirty clothes with soap,the Biowashing Machine mixes ground pollutionwith the right bacteria. The thermal storage systemalso pumps the groundwater around, keeping it

constantly in motion, just like in a washing machine.The Biowashing Machine allows buildings in a largearea to make use of sustainable energy sources,such as thermal storage. In summer, the systemstores heat deep in the ground, which is used toprovide heating in winter. In winter, the cold waterreturns underground and provides cooling in thesummer, successfully helping to reduce CO2

emissions.

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FUTURE ENERGY & RESOURCES

The emphasis in Future Energy & Resources is onthe development of smart, sustainable materials forgenerating, storing and saving energy, on the onehand, and making better use of current energysources on the other. The Utrecht scientists focuson geothermal energy, for example, and oncatalysts for the conversion of biomass.

New catalyst enables faster and moreefficient conversion of biomass intovaluable resources – Utrecht UniversityMany of the activities at the multidisciplinary andinternationally renowned Catalysis Centre Utrecht(part of Utrecht University) are aimed at developingcatalysts for making chemical and fuel productionmore sustainable. In conjunction with their Britishand American counterparts, chemists at UtrechtUniversity have developed a new, reusable catalystthat makes the conversion of biomass into valuablerenewable products (such as plastics and fuels)

faster and more efficient. Patent is pending on theinvention. “We collaborated closely with a numberof chemical companies on this research, who arenow very interested in the catalyst”, says BertWeckhuysen, professor of Anorganic Chemistry andCatalysis at Utrecht University.

Sustainable Energy Lab – HU Universityof Applied Sciences UtrechtRoofs offer enormous potential for sustainableenergy technologies, such as solar panels and solarwater heaters. With its 500 m2 and ten differentroofing technologies, the Sustainable Energy Lab on the roof of HU University of Applied SciencesUtrecht provides the basis for a challengingtechnological curriculum. The technologies being explored are those thateither still enjoy limited application in theNetherlands, or whose performance is still unclear.The lab offers a unique and wide variety of solarpanels and water heaters that can be combinedeither with one another or with other sustainableenergy technologies. Where possible, the lab putsthe energy generated back into the network. 36

Underground DTS monitoring of groundenergy systems – Utrecht SustainabilityInstitute (USI)/Deltares/UtrechtUniversity/PartnersUtrecht-based knowledge institutions, companiesand municipal and provincial authorities are joiningforces to create a world-first approach to improvingthe performance of thermal energy storage. Three-dimensional underground fibre-optic networks willbe installed at three different locations, allowingsubterranean temperatures to be measuredthroughout the seasons. The results will producethe first set of clear data on how the subterraneanenergy balance of thermal storage systems variesfrom season to season, and how the potentialground energy in each area can best be utilized. The project's full name is the Fibre-Optic Monitoringof the Energy Potential in Thermal Energy Systems(FOME-BES in Dutch). In Utrecht, this innovative DTSfibre-optic monitoring system is being tested at theRijnsweerd office park, in the Utrecht CentralStation area and at Utrecht Science Park. www.fomebes.nl

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Installation of optical fibre along cold and heat storage system (in Utrecht) to enable monitoring of subsoil temperature profiles.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The circular economy is an economic systemdesigned to maximise the re-usability of productsand resources, and to keep the destruction of valueto a minimum. This contrasts with the current linearsystem, in which resources are converted intoproducts that are destroyed at the end of theiruseful lives. A circular economy focuses not onpossession but on use, conserving resources for thefuture.

POLI 3.0: Outpatient clinic with a future, flexible and sustainable –UMC UtrechtPOLI 3.0 is a multi-year plan by the UMC Utrecht forthe renovation of the outpatient clinic building. Thenew vision on healthcare has been taken as thestarting point for the renovations: health (instead ofillness) and maintaining control of one's own life(instead of eliminating disease) are now the mainfocal points of healthcare. Taking the patient's timeand availability as the starting point, and allowing38

care processes to revolve around the patientrevealed that much less space was required. So instead of doubling the floor area (which wasoriginally anticipated), the existing building capacitynow proves to offer more than enough room. Theprinciples of the circular economy are used asfundamental starting points: resources that becomeavailable are recycled, and flexible constructionleaves room for potential future healthcaredevelopments. Materials are purchased accordingto the circular model and goods remain theproperty of the producer, ensuring that resourcesare retained for the future.

Circular Economy Labs – USI/UtrechtUniversity/PartnersThe aim of the Circular Economy Labs is to boostthe transition to a circular economy in key sectorstogether with stakeholders involved. The debatesserve to formulate solutions to concrete problemsand organizational issues. Acquired knowledge isused to accelerate the transition towards thecircular economy in business practice and toincrease concrete business opportunities. Topics

vary from e-waste to plastics and from paper &cardboard to procurement. In honour of the tenthlab, the results of the first nine labs are bundled inthe report: Circular economy: from vision torealization.

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SMART SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Innovation and sustainability in urban areas formkey spearheads for both Utrecht Science Park andthe Utrecht region. Government authorities, theprivate sector and research institutes are workingclosely together on various projects to realise a‘smart, sustainable city’. Smart sustainable cities arethe cities of the future, where people are happy tolive and work. These cities have a healthy climateboth inside and out: they are bursting with industryand social activities and remain energy-neutral,making them attractive and affordable for futuregenerations.

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The ultimate goal is toincrease the healthy life

years of citizens

Center of Expertise for Smart Sustainable Cities – HU University ofApplied Sciences UtrechtIn conjunction with businesses and knowledgeinstitutions, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrechthas launched the public-private Center of Expertise(CoE) for Smart Sustainable Cities. Through innovativeteaching and research, the CoE supplies products,services and solutions to help pave the way towardsthe realisation of smart, healthy and sustainablecities. To encourage their development, it is essentialfor the professionals of the future to think and act interms of sustainability. Sustainable education will be a crucial element and one that is being addressedinternationally by the ESSENCE project, a partnershipbetween five higher education institutions and threemunicipalities. Initiatives include the development ofan international, interdisciplinary teaching curriculum,projects commissioned by the three local authoritiesto find workable solutions to sustainability issues inurban areas, and the implementation of new teachingmethods in order to generate best practices in theapplication of MOOCs, e-learning and blendedlearning.

Smart Sustainable Districts –USI/Utrecht University/Deltares/TNOUtrecht Central Station area is one of the majorredevelopment projects in the Netherlands. As partof Climate-KIC’s Smart Sustainable Districts (SSD)programme, it is now also set to become a globalexemplar project for testing smart, sustainablesystems. Regional expertise and solutions arecombined with some of the most advancedinnovations from Climate-KIC’s network of over 200partners. Within the SSD-programme, theMunicipality of Utrecht, Jaarbeurs B.V. and SSD-partners aim to co-develop, pilot and test newintegrated solutions for the Utrecht Central Stationarea. These solutions will lead to factor fourimprovements in a range of climate change andsustainability measures. Solutions, improvementsand lessons learned from these integratedapproaches will be shared to help enable smarter,more sustainable districts worldwide.

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SMART SUSTAINABLE CITIES

ARE THE CITIES OFTHE FUTURE

UtrechtInc, successful and dynamic incubator USP has a successful and dynamic incubator inUtrechtInc, which supports entrepreneurs andbusiness start-ups in Utrecht in areas such asfinance, coaching, housing, training and anextensive network. UtrechtInc inspires andencourages young, beginning entrepreneurs whohave the courage to use their scientific knowledgeto create successful and concrete applications andthen bring them to market. UtrechtInc targetsscalable and innovative start-ups in IT which focuson care, sustainability and the environment, andeducation. Recently, the Utrecht-based incubatorcame second in the Knowledge-based IncubatorAwards during the annual AcademicEntrepreneurship Conference, thanks to its highscore in graduate impact and start-up sales growth. In 2015 a new Life Sciences Incubator will beopened at Utrecht Science Park.

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OUR RESULTS (2009-2014)

124startups

supported

54graduates

68%alumni or scientists

from UU, HU,UMC Utrecht

72startups funded by

Rabo Pre-seed Fund;in total € 2,5 MLN

2013201220112010 2014

271811

6

39

revenue by startups x € 1MLN

jobs created

Estimated impact on revenue and numberof jobs of acquired graduates.

470325261143

630

€ 118 MLN raised

by startups

9acquired graduates

OUR PROGRAM

Discoverystage 1

€ 18k equity-free funding

Pressure Cookerstage 2

Buildstage 3

-3 months 2 years0 months 4 months

“UtrechtInc focuses on entrepreneurswho can shape knowledge intoinnovations and thereby contribute toa healthy society. Our view on thishealthy society is: healthy people –healthy environment – healthy mind.”

ROEL RAATGEVER, DIRECTOR OF UTRECHTINC

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Young generation is businesslikeand idealistic Bustling with entrepreneurial spirit, USP isseeing the young, socially-engaged generation,in particular, move forward steadily andenthusiastically. Financial gain and communityspirit go hand in hand. Young entrepreneurs inUtrecht want to be needed and relevant and givesomething back to society. USP facilitates,supports and promotes these needs, so it is littlewonder that companies are popping up all overthe place. For example, Springlab devisesinnovations relating to motion to help peoplelead more active lives. At 'In de Maak', studentsfrom various knowledge institutes are workingtogether on a sustainable business plan for anew restaurant for the homeless where mealsmay not cost more than 1 euro.

IN RESIDENCE

91graduate

entrepreneurs

46highly involvedmentors and

advisors

88founders and

employees

31startups

OUR COMMUNITY

In 2014 4 graduates were acquired and 1 went public. These companies were good for a total market cap of

€ 260 MLN at time of exit.Distimo, AQTIS Medical, RailData, Looptijden.nl, ArGEN-X

ACQUISITIONS & IPO

O

SOON helps organisations with social orsustainable enterprise and sets up the relatedprojects together with students. ‘De Daktuin’ and‘De Winterkas’ are examples of such projects. ‘DeDaktuin’ is a pop-up garden which appears on theparking garage of the University Library for sevenweeks in the summer and provides a space foreveryone – from professors preparing their lecturesto students trying to drink away the examinationblues with an early beer. ‘De Winterkas’ is a pop-upglass greenhouse which offers an inspiring month-long programme in sustainability and innovationamidst the greenery inside the greenhouse. ‘Nest’ is a permanent pop-up store with outlets inthe city and at USP. The intention is for ‘Nest’ todevelop into a popular meeting place for all young,creative, sustainable and social entrepreneurs inUtrecht. At USP, the relationship between education, scienceand social entrepreneurship is becomingincreasingly close-knit and structural in nature,which makes Utrecht an even more appealing placeto work and study.46

47Utrecht Science Park | info@utrechtsciencepark.nl | T +31 (0)30 800 44 99 | www.utrechtsciencepark.nl

IS AN INITIATIVE OF UTRECHT UNIVERSITY, HU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES UTRECHT, UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER UTRECHT, THE CITY OF UTRECHT AND UTRECHT PROVINCE.

UTRECHT SCIENCE PARK IS PARTLY FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN FUND FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CREDITS

UTRECHT SCIENCE PARK ©2015

DESIGN: WAT ONTWERPERS

PHOTOGRAPHY: COVER: FRED ERNSTBACKCOVER: MARIEKE VERHOEVENINTERIOR: IVAR PEL, ANDREW BILLINGTON,SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, UTRECHT UNIVERSITYALAN POPE, SEBASTIAN HUIZER,UTRECHT SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE, ROOS ALDERHOFF, UMC UTRECHT, SSH,MARIEKE VERHOEVEN

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AT UTRECHT SCIENCEPARK, FINANCIAL GAIN

AND COMMUNITY SPIRITGO HAND IN HAND

HEALTHY PEOPLEHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

HEALTHY MIND