During the first edition of Marathon Groningen, powered by Campus Groningen, held on Sunday, May 31, regional partners came together to reflect on the future of the event. In the Campus Lounge at the finish line on Zernike Campus, representatives from government, education, healthcare, and business expressed their shared ambition to further develop the marathon in the years ahead.
In Groningen, we do not wait for others to lead the way. Progress happens here because people are given the space to experiment, collaborate, and take initiative. Marathon Groningen is a visible expression of that spirit: a milestone within a much longer journey that Groningen takes every day.
“Marathon Groningen is much more than a running event. Just as we do through our partnerships in elite sports, this platform allows us to showcase what Groningen stands for: innovation, energy, and connection. It perfectly reflects how we want people to experience our city and region,” says Jan Hugo Nuijt of Groningen & Partners.
With more than 12,500 participants, Groningen celebrated a successful marathon edition in which sport and region came together in a powerful way. Thousands of runners and visitors gathered for a day dedicated to movement, connection, and community.
Edward van der Meer, Director of Campus Groningen, said: “What we witnessed on Sunday was much bigger than a sporting event. The energy throughout the city, the thousands of people coming together in motion, and the collaboration between so many partners perfectly demonstrate what Groningen stands for. Today, we are expressing our ambition to continue growing that momentum together. Not only through sport, but also through talent development, health, innovation, and regional pride, with Marathon Groningen serving as a catalyst.”
During the gathering at the finish line, the participating organizations expressed their ambition to further develop Marathon Groningen between 2026 and 2028 as a regional platform with both societal and economic impact.
Representatives from Groningen & Partners, Campus Groningen, UMCG, the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Municipality of Groningen, the Province of Groningen, NV NOM, and Business Association WEST were present at the occasion.
Through this collaboration, the partners aim to strengthen the visibility and attractiveness of Groningen as an innovative, healthy, and connected region.
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.
