Groningen Creates Space for Health Innovation: Masterplan Healthy Ageing Campus Groningen 2040
Th 20 November 2025
Groningen is, and will remain, the heart of health innovation in the Netherlands. The draft masterplan for the Healthy Ageing Campus has been released for public consultation. The plan provides room for Groningen’s ambitions in healthcare and groundbreaking research, aimed at achieving more healthy years for everyone. With this masterplan, an important milestone has been reached. It presents an inspiring vision for the future, one that UMCG, the University of Groningen, and the Municipality will work toward together over the next fifteen years. A campus that integrates healthcare, research, education, housing, and entrepreneurship: connected by squares, gardens, and pathways. An environment with strong appeal to researchers, students, staff, entrepreneurs, visitors, and patients alike.
More healthy years for everyone
The Healthy Ageing Campus stretches between the Petrus Campersingel and Oostersingel, from Hanzeplein to the Oosterhamrikkanaal. The masterplan outlines the transformation of a grey, urban area into a green, inspiring campus centered on the mission of creating more healthy years for all. It strengthens the connection between the campus and the city, making Groningen a model of a healthy city. A place where the world’s leading researchers and companies work on solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s health challenges. The partners involved are extremely proud of this vision.
The Future Starts Here
“Today we are taking the step toward a campus that is not only important for the Northern Netherlands, but also worldwide,” says Paulina Snijders, member of the Executive Board of UMCG. “At the Healthy Ageing Campus Groningen, healthcare, science, education, and entrepreneurship come together. We invest in innovative healthcare and science, and we take concrete steps in sustainability and health. What starts here will reach the world.”
“With this campus we are creating an inspiring innovation ecosystem where clinical and academic research go hand in hand, where different disciplines reinforce each other, and where talent from all over the world is attracted,” says Hans Biemans, Vice-Chair of the Executive Board of the University of Groningen. “The campus provides space for creativity, research, and progress. Together we are working towards a future in which healthy ageing is within reach for everyone.”
“The municipality, UMCG, and the University of Groningen are fully committed to our shared ambitions,” says Alderman for Spatial Planning Rik van Niejenhuis. “With this area vision, we are continuing a long tradition of spatial development. In the coming decades, the campus will remain connected to the heart of the city. A place by and for all residents of Groningen, where together we build a city in which healthy choices and quality of life are central.”
The next step in this collaboration is to explore the possibilities for making the vision a reality. UMCG, the University of Groningen, and the municipality will pursue this together. “Only by working together can we solve the major societal challenges of our time,” says Van Niejenhuis. The draft area vision can now be viewed at: gemeente.groningen.nl/umcgvrydemalaan
A Campus Alive with Enterprise
The Healthy Ageing Campus is not only home to an inspiring spatial vision and a global player like the UMCG; it is also a vibrant hub of enterprise. Companies that are shaping the healthcare of tomorrow are choosing this location with purpose. The UMCG provides a unique breeding ground: access to patients, leading researchers, students, and healthcare partners. This makes the campus attractive to international players and young innovators eager to move from idea to practice.
New players are continuously establishing themselves in Groningen and joining the existing community. Recently, Biokinetica and Eloc settled on the campus, each contributing from their own field to strengthening the regional and international healthcare chain. At the same time, the scale-ups and innovators already here are steadily growing. Some examples: Innocore Pharmaceuticals is making a global impact with its injectable drug depots that reach millions of patients. CC Diagnostics just won the prestigious Life Science Innovation Award for groundbreaking research into the early detection of cervical cancer. And Reyedar is developing smart eye-tracking technology that is revolutionizing diagnostics and prevention.
Building the Future Together
With the spatial vision as our compass, we continue to build a strong and meaningful innovation ecosystem that benefits Groningen, the Netherlands, and far beyond. In short, the vision is not only about buildings, streets, and green spaces, but above all about the people, companies, and institutions working here every day on innovation, collaboration, and impact. This is a campus that lives, grows, and inspires pride.
Op zondag 31 mei 2026 staat Groningen in het teken van sport, doorzettingsvermogen en betrokkenheid. Tussen alle lopers is ook het herkenbare roze van Vrienden Beatrix Kinderziekenhuis zichtbaar.
The LIFE Cooperative, part of the Northern Netherlands life sciences ecosystem at Campus Groningen, is organizing the Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon together with FIGON on Thursday, 26 February. This fully booked event brings together leading scientists and industry experts to explore the latest developments in innovative medicines and advanced drug delivery. Read the full article as published by the LIFE Cooperative.National Attention for Sold-Out Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon: Innovative Medicines and Advanced Drug Delivery Take Center Stage in Groningen Innovation in medicines takes center stage on Thursday, 26 February during the Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon, an inspiring event organized by FIGON (Federation for Innovative Drug Research Netherlands) in collaboration with the LIFE Cooperative. “We are extremely proud of the strong line-up at this event, bringing together leading experts from science and industry to explore the frontiers of drug development. The fact that registrations are already fully booked underlines the great importance of this event for the life sciences ecosystem, and in particular for the Northern Netherlands,” says Ronald Hesse, Director of the LIFE Cooperative. The Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon brings together scientists, innovators, and professionals from across the Netherlands for an afternoon of insights, knowledge exchange, and networking opportunities. The speaker line-up features experts from both academia and industry. This event is already fully booked. Interested in joining the waiting list? Please email: amber@lifecooperative.nlConnecting force The afternoon will be opened by Prof. Klaas Poelstra of the University of Groningen (RUG), Chair of FIGON, who will outline the importance of innovative drug development in the Netherlands. This will be followed by an introduction by Robert Hof on behalf of the LIFE Cooperative, highlighting the cooperative’s role as a connecting force within the regional ecosystem. The first session block before the break focuses on innovation in drug delivery systems. Rob Steendam (CTO, InnoCore) will discuss the development of long-acting SynBiosys® microspheres for controlled and sustained drug release. Jaap Wieling (CEO, PureIMS) will present the potential of dry-powder inhalation via the Cyclops® technology for both pulmonary and systemic indications. From an academic perspective, Prof. Marleen Kamperman (University of Groningen) will explore the potential of polyelectrolyte coacervates as innovative drug delivery platforms.Deep dive After the break, the focus shifts to advanced nanomedicines and clinical development strategies. Dr. Flávia Sousa (RUG) will present her work on polymer-based nanomedicines for the delivery of biotherapeutics to the brain. Dr. Ad Roffel (ICON plc, Groningen) will address mass balance and absolute bioavailability studies with ¹⁴C-labeled drugs in humans, an essential component of clinical drug development. Prof. Erik Frijlink (RUG) will reflect on the value of innovation within both established and advanced drug delivery systems, placing technological progress in a broader pharmaceutical context. Finally, Prof. Helder Santos (RUG) will demonstrate how nanomedicines are being used for RNA delivery in myocardial infarction repair, a promising development in cardiovascular therapy. “We are extremely proud of the strong line-up at this event, bringing together leading experts from science and industry to explore the frontiers of drug development. The fact that registrations are already fully booked underlines the great importance of this event for the life sciences ecosystem, and in particular for the Northern Netherlands." - Ronald Hesse, director LIFE CooperativeClosing and networking The afternoon will conclude with a contribution by Peter Ketelaar (LIFE Cooperative), followed by closing remarks from Prof. Klaas Poelstra. Participants will then have the opportunity to connect and continue discussions during the networking reception. Hesse looks forward to the event: “With this event, FIGON and the LIFE Cooperative underline the strength of collaboration between academia, industry, and clinical practice. The Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon promises not only to be an inspiring afternoon, but also to provide momentum for further innovation and collaboration within the Northern Netherlands life sciences ecosystem.” Text: lifecooperative.nlPhotographer: Casper Maas
The master plan for the Healthy Ageing Campus has officially been approved! This marks an important step in developing the campus as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and collaboration. With a focus on greenery, health, and connection to the city, the campus will become a vibrant environment where research, education, healthcare, and business come together. The vision provides space for new laboratories, building renovations, meeting places, and closer collaboration between UMCG, RUG, and the business community. Read the whole article by the UMCG below.Green light for the Healthy Ageing Campus Master Plan On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, the Groningen City Council formally approved the master plan for the Healthy Ageing Campus. This is a major milestone, as the plan provides the framework for the campus’s further development and its integration with the surrounding area. At the end of last year, the University of Groningen (RUG), the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), and the City of Groningen presented an ambitious, future-proof plan for the campus. Shared ambitions have been translated into coherent spatial and programmatic guidelines for current and future developments. In other words: how much space is available for which functions on the campus, and where is the most suitable location for them? The renewed campus will: Provide space for knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, encouraging interaction between disciplines and people; Connect with the city, making the campus a natural part of Groningen life; Be a healthy and sustainable environment, with attention to greenery, physical activity, wellbeing, and a living environment that supports health; Be lively and accessible, bringing together living, working, research, studying, and healthcare.Next steps The master plan is not only a blueprint for the future, but also a concrete step toward further developing the current campus. Construction and renovation on the UMCG and RUG grounds are ongoing, and each project must now be assessed to determine what is possible. With the approval of this master plan, the way is cleared for follow-up decisions, including applying for demolition and building permits and further project development within the area. Upcoming projects include: The construction of the Central Laboratory for Diagnostics and Research (CLDR): a new laboratory building on the site of the former UCP building. This building will bring together various laboratories in one location to improve collaboration. Relocating laboratories from the Central Medical Complex is also necessary for the renovation and expansion of several hospital departments; Renovation and future-proofing of existing UMCG and RUG buildings, with attention to sustainability, flexibility, and integration with the heating/cooling system; Making the campus greener and more accessible, creating new meeting places and better connections to surrounding public spaces; Creating space for campus-related business activities, strengthening collaboration between UMCG, RUG, and the private sector.Municipality explores the future of DOT Initially, the master plan covered the area between Petrus Campersingel and Oostersingel, from Hanzeplein to the Oosterhamrikkanaal. In the newly approved plan, the Bodenterrein site has been separated, as the municipality is investigating the costs of possibly preserving DOT. More information on this will be available later this year. Read more about the Master Plan.Source text and pictures: umcg.nl
