Kadans partners with Utrecht University for new innovation hub

January 29, 2025

Kadans Science Partner has been selected by Utrecht University to redevelop the Transition Building at Utrecht Science Park.

We take pride in bringing our clients as close as possible to the essential ingredients that fuel the rapid development of their technologies. That’s why we’re thrilled to add a new innovation hub to our existing offering at the Utrecht Science Park, further tapping into the wealth of knowledge and talent at Utrecht University and other research institutes. With the addition of The Bridge, we now boast four unique locations, each with its own strengths. The proximity to institutes, educational institutions, and research organizations makes each hub the perfect landing spot for innovative companies with ambitious plans for the future. Whether you’re a start-up or a scale-up, we have a solution for you. Discover more about our new laboratory building below.

Utrecht, January 29 – Kadans Science Partner has been selected by Utrecht University to redevelop the Transition Building at Utrecht Science Park into a vibrant hub at the intersection of sustainability and innovation. This project, known as The Bridge, will serve as a temporary home for various institutes of Utrecht University for the first eight years. 

Located in the Northwest Cluster of the Utrecht Science Park, the existing concrete structure of the former Earth Sciences building will be transformed into a new Sustainability community. By preserving the existing supporting structure, we will save over 1.4 million kilograms of CO2. 

The Bridge will become a 20,000 m² GFA meeting place for entrepreneurs, researchers, and students. The building will feature 70% laboratories and 30% supporting offices. Kadans will leverage its expertise to create highly specialized labs tailored to the unique needs of future users, including phytotrons, aquaria, vibration-free labs, and daylight-free labs. This development will play a crucial role in fostering openness and collaboration in scientific research with other campus users and the world beyond. 

Temporary home base for Utrecht University 

For the first eight years after completion, The Bridge will be the home base for the Institute of Environmental Biology (IEB), the Institute for Biodynamics and Biocomplexity (IBB), and part of the Bijvoet Center. This will allow for the complete renovation of the Kruyt building. After this period, the building will house companies and institutions within the Sustainability sector. The proximity to institutes, educational institutions, and research organizations makes this new hub the ideal landing place for innovative companies with big plans for our future. Thanks to Kadans’ years of expertise, the spaces are flexible and can be converted into state-of-the-art facilities that meet the unique needs of new users. 

Johan van Gerven, Director of Development at Kadans Science Partner, expressed his pride in being given the opportunity by Utrecht University to redevelop The Bridge into a new vibrant hub for research and knowledge sharing. He emphasized the complexity of redeveloping existing structures and Kadans’ commitment to tackling this challenge with innovative solutions. “This development represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future and creates an inspiring environment for research and innovation.” 

Vice President Margot van der Starre of Utrecht University highlighted the importance of this project: “With The Bridge, we are taking a concrete step towards our ambition to create a sustainable and circular campus. By reusing existing materials and building innovatively, we demonstrate that we not only talk about sustainability but also put it into practice. Together with partners like Kadans Science Partner, we are building a future where knowledge sharing, innovation, and sustainability go hand in hand.” 

The Bridge will be Kadans Science Partner’s fourth location at Utrecht Science Park. Currently, work is also underway on the completion of Plus Ultra Utrecht: a true Life Sciences hub specifically aimed at start-ups and scale-ups. Plus Ultra Utrecht will be ready for the first users to move in later this year. 

Construction of The Bridge is expected to begin in early 2026, with faculties moving in during the last quarter of 2027. Kadans will collaborate with cepezed, BAM, and Arcadis for the realization of this project.