Utrecht selected for Pioneering Places Programme

Biotech: a billion-dollar business. Utrecht Science Park is almost a city in itself.In brief· Genmab acquires biotech company Merus for $8 billion, the largest Dutch deal in the sector ever.· Both companies are located at Utrecht Science Park, which employs over 30,000 people.· Genmab's CEO emphasises the combined strength of companies and knowledge institutions in Utrecht.It is the largest acquisition ever in Dutch biotech: Genmab acquires Merus for $8 billion. Where are these two companies based? In Utrecht. The FD visits the Science Park there. 'Drug development cannot take place in isolation.'Photo: The Genmab building at Utrecht Science Park. (C) Ramon van Flymen for the FD

‘Through collaborations, we make an impact inside and outside the pitch’Whoever thinks of football in Utrecht thinks of FC Utrecht. The club in the heart of the Netherlands is much more than that. In the middle of Utrecht, Heart of Health, the club contributes to a vital and healthy region. “Through our innovation platform FC Utrecht Next, starting companies can try out their innovations in the field of sports, health and exercise. Our stadium and the area around us is one big ‘living lab’.”Within FC Utrecht Next, the club collaborates with knowledge institutions, the government and companies. “We offer start-ups, students and young professionals a stage to debut and grow. With us you can experiment,” says Sonny van Kranenburg, Manager Brand Activation. During The Pitch event, start-ups present their plans. For example, Swappsport introduces people to different sports, Sport-Planner gets people moving, Mr. Fill makes smart litter bins to combat litter worldwide and the Lees Simpel App turns difficult texts into understandable language. “Together we form a coalition that wants to take the next step, the next level. With this initiative, we want to create a leading example in the field of innovation and cooperation.”SportcampusThe cooperation FC Utrecht seeks sets the club apart from other clubs in the region. “Companies that normally work individually work together because we throw up a ball. For example, we work with five top clubs around us in Sportcampus Traiectum on healthy urban living. It is a breeding ground for sports and vitality. There we bring talents, athletes and coaches together, among other things. But we also do research on sports, exercise and vitality.”Positive influence“As a soccer club in Utrecht, Heart of Health, we want to contribute to a more vital and healthy environment,” Van Kranenburg continued. “Through our strong brand, we can have a positive influence. We can reach and connect people. In our stadium, everyone from society comes together.”Meaningful changeUMC Utrecht is also a loyal partner. “Under the banner of ‘Wear that Band,’ we are creating awareness about measuring blood pressure,” says Dr. K. K., who is a member of the group. High blood pressure is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. On several occasions, captains wore a special “Wear that Band!” captain’s band to encourage people to measure their blood pressure annually. Van Kranenburg knows the collaboration makes meaningful change. “It touches me when a tough truck driver tells me he likes to have his blood pressure tested for his club, especially after losing a friend himself. That shows how valuable it is to spread the knowledge of UMC Utrecht.”Social connectionBut the club also has social connection high on its agenda. “As a club at the heart of society, we know how sport can fraternize. At matches, 20,000 people sit here with the same feeling. We don’t know each other, and together we form a unit.” To connect even more people, the club organizes, for example, a big Christmas dinner in Stadion Galgenwaard for lonely Utrechters at Christmas. By celebrating Christmas together they don’t feel alone. That contributes to good social fitness. “A lady of 100 years sends us an e-mail months in advance that she is looking forward to it. Nowadays she brings her friends from the nursing home. Wonderful!”Footballers as role modelsThe association also succeeds in inspiring young people by using soccer players as role models. For example, players explain to children at elementary school the importance of drinking water every day. “In the class where the soccer players drew attention to this, more water was drunk months later than in the class where the teacher talked about this. That’s the power of an athlete as a role model.”Heart of the neighborhoodFurthermore, the club moves into the neighborhood for positive social change. With FC Utrecht in de Wijk, the club embraces an amateur club in the region. “Together we are looking at how the club can become the heart of the neighborhood. A clubhouse where local residents feel comfortable. A place where young people can develop their talents.” Sports events, workshops and educational programs are also part of this project.Building togetherThe mix of sport, knowledge, expertise and network, according to Van Kranenburg, is a powerful tool to make an impact on society, both inside and outside the soccer field. Through all the initiatives, the club hopes to show other places in the world that you can achieve more together than alone. “We really do it as a team, just like with soccer. Alone you go fast, but together you get further. Of course everyone does it in their own way, but together we contribute to the big picture. Together we build a place where we live long in good health, have fun together and leave the region beautiful for future generations.”

Jaarbeurs – world leader in sustainabilityJaarbeurs is the largest Exhibition and Conference venue in the Netherlands, located right in the heart of Utrecht. With four separate conference centres, a theatre and an Exhibition Centre spread over 11 halls covering about 100,000 m², the venue is home to some of world’s most exciting and varied trade fairs, corporate events, meetings, concerts, and festivals.With the 2.3 million guests Jaarbeurs hosts on a yearly basis and a clear focus on sustainability, the positive environmental and societal impact such a large venue can make – and by extension that of the events they host – is significant.A clear strategic visionAs proud and involved residents of the Utrecht region, Jaarbeurs aims to be the most sustainable conference and events venue in Europe. To achieve this vision, the team has set some pretty bold objectives.Even more, the hardworking team is well on its way to achieving these goals thanks to the strategic vision implemented by Chief Sustainability Officer Marloes van den Berg. The strategic plan encompasses various themes including sustainable employment, sustainable business and operations, and social responsibility.Aim to be Climate neutral by 2030Jaarbeurs is set to achieve 50% carbon neutrality by in the next two years. And by 2030, they aim to not just be carbon neutral, but to become climate positive. From zero waste initiatives to cradle-to-cradle design, there is not a single facet of the event industry that the team has not taken into account when it comes to achieving carbon neutrality. Other examples of projects that contribute to their sustainability ambitions are the development of the Jaarbeurs Live App to stimulate digital communications, looking into more efficient visitor flows and logistics and the installation of solar panels on the rooftop of the large venue.In regards to the hospitality side of the business, Jaarbeurs has made a conscious choice to focus on quality. Their menu consists of mainly vegetarian options, and uses locally sourced food that is cooked to order, in order to use fresh produce as efficiently as possible and avoid waste. By introducing a 90% vegetarian-based menu in their restaurants and hospitality packages consisting of at least 80% vegetarian options for conferences, Jaarbeurs has already been able to cut CO2 emissions by 500 tonnes. In addition, a smart waste management system means the team can investigate even better separation of waste flows. A composting machine for kitchen scraps allows them to make their own compost, which, in the future, will be used to grow their own vegetables to complete the circular approach. Jaarbeurs also hopes to open up the use of the composting machine to the citizens of Utrecht in the future, so the whole neighbourhood can enjoy it.Support Local InitiativesJaarbeurs acknowledges its role as an influential partner of Utrecht, to create a place with a focus on healthy urban living. The many local initiatives they support are varied, ranging from donating laptops to fellow Utrecht residents to giving disadvantaged youths the opportunity to intern at Jaarbeurs.Sustainable Trade shows and eventsFinally, Jaarbeurs has made it their mission to accelerate sustainable growth within all key industries and sectors it is active in via trade shows and events (healthcare, education, construction and IT). By actively helping to drive sustainable ambitions, they make sure to give start-ups and scale-ups, with a focus on sustainability, a podium to showcase themselves at trade shows. Furthermore, Jaarbeurs awards companies with the most sustainable products or stands. And the subject of sustainability is always considered when scheduling the keynotes and speakers in the content programmes of its own events.Thanks to their central location right next to the national train station hub, in the heart of Utrecht, it makes sense to promote travel by public transport. Collaborating with local suppliers who are able to combine deliveries to Jaarbeurs and other local organisations is another great way of reducing food miles and keeping emissions down.UFI Sustainable Development AwardSince 2019, Jaarbeurs has been able to save an enormous amount of CO2 through its various sustainability efforts. Solar panels power much of their facilities and they have eliminated the need for paper maps by developing their own smartphone app. Close to 178,000 meals were saved through careful meal planning and local partnerships.Aside from the aforementioned ‘greener menu’, Jaarbeurs has implemented a new way to reduce even more garbage. Thanks to their smart waste bin system, which tracks the amount of green wastage (swirl), they can make smarter purchasing choices are set to save up to 221,763kg of CO2 in 2023 alone. Unsurprisingly, these Food and Food Waste projects have led to Jaarbeurs winning the 2022 UFI Sustainable Development Award for Best Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative.For each event hosted within the Jaarbeurs venue – large and small – they have committed to plant a tree via their partner Trees for All. An average year can see them planting up to 8,800 trees, which equals a further 588,000kg of CO2.This all goes to show that small changes really can have a huge impact. Especially when you welcome 2.3 million visitors a year.