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.
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.
“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.
Who is developing the most impactful innovation in Life Sciences & Health in the Northern Netherlands? Five companies are in the running for the LIFE Science Innovation Award 2026: Flux Robotics, Limosa Immunodiagnostics, SPCTR, MimeCure and GlycanScan International. The nominees will present their innovations on Tuesday 22 September during the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference in Groningen. An independent jury will select the winner, who will receive a €10,000 cash prize.
A much-loved tradition The Campus Trail has become a much-loved tradition on campus. Students, employees and professionals from companies and organisations across the campus ecosystem lace up their running shoes for a sporty 6.4-kilometre route through buildings and past some of the campus’s unique labs. The rapid growth in registrations shows just how much the Campus Trail has become part of the campus community. The combination of sport, meeting others and the unique campus setting makes the run a great opportunity to connect with people outside the usual work and study environment. And there’s no need to head home as soon as you cross the finish line. During the after-party, hosted by Contini Catering, participants can relax together, enjoy a drink and celebrate the afternoon. There’s still time to join: those who want to take part can register online until 3 September, or sign up on the day itself using the PIN Campus Trail 2026 | Campus Groningen.
ZonMw is expected to open the final call for proposals within the PharmaNL Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) program line. This program line focuses on strengthening the infrastructure for the development, upscaling, and production of innovative medicines in the Netherlands.
