VU Campus to get accelerator hub for Life Sciences & Health
“New Matrix Innovation Center for startups & scale-ups will be the place where the healthcare of the future is shaped.”
Published on September 27, 2025
On September 25, the first pile was driven by Bart Vink, chairman of the Zuid district council, together with Marcel Nollen (Executive Board of the VU) and Matrix director Ivo Sweep. The building is expected to be completed and put into use at the end of 2027
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The first pile has been driven for a brand-new Matrix Innovation Center on the VU Campus in Amsterdam. This will be a place where companies in Life Sciences, Health, and Biotech come together in an environment that fosters innovation in healthcare. The building is designed for startups and fast-growing companies developing groundbreaking applications at the intersection of science, healthcare, and technology. The building is expected to open its doors at the end of 2027.
The Netherlands ranks sixth worldwide as a location for Life Sciences companies. However, according to recent research by KPMG, investment in research & development, as well as access to innovation, is lagging behind. This is creating a growing need for places where patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs can work together. At the Matrix Innovation Center, start-ups are in contact with the network of scientists from VU Amsterdam and doctors and researchers from Amsterdam UMC to push the boundaries in healthcare.
The arrival of the new building aligns with the ambitions of the municipality of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Amsterdam UMC to develop the Kenniskwartier Zuidas Innovation District. In doing so, these parties are accelerating the transition from groundbreaking fundamental research to clinical application and social impact.
Computer models tested directly in the lab
Within the Matrix Innovation Center, start-ups, scale-ups, and spin-ins will program new computer models that can be tested for effectiveness directly in the adjacent lab. In addition, entrepreneurs will be able to collaborate with the leading knowledge within Amsterdam UMC, utilizing relevant patient data and samples to conduct effective testing.
“This building will be a powerful catalyst for innovation in life sciences & health and biotech,” says Ivo Sweep, Managing Director of Matrix Innovation Centers. “By offering innovative startups and scale-ups a state-of-the-art working environment at the heart of the life sciences ecosystem around VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC, we are accelerating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of groundbreaking solutions.”
AI-driven life sciences
Whereas life sciences focus on pharmaceutical development and the medtech industry on instruments, a new domain is emerging: AI-driven prevention, prediction, monitoring, and diagnostics. The promise of this is enormous. Think of algorithms that compare millions of X-rays to identify abnormalities, or systems that predict diseases before symptoms arise. AI enables faster, more reliable, and more accessible prevention, prediction, monitoring, and diagnosis. This is not only beneficial for the patient, but also helps keep healthcare affordable.
“Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a place where high-quality research meets social engagement,” says Marcel Nollen, member of the Executive Board of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Our mission is to contribute to today's complex issues through research and education, with scientific excellence and social impact. The new Matrix Innovation Center on the VU Campus offers a unique opportunity to further strengthen and consolidate this impact. A place that makes the healthcare of the future possible: faster, smarter, and more people-oriented."