Life Science is one of the top-sectors in the Netherlands. However, a lack of suitable infrastructure in the Metropolitan Amsterdam Area for entrepreneurs in this growth sector mean that Life Science start-ups often have no choice but to stay in small or unprofessional accommodations.
According to Geert Haksteen, director MATRIX Innovation Center and developer of MatrixVI: “If start-ups want their company to grow, they need interaction with research institutes and the university. Therefore they need to be able to stay on the Science Park Campus. At this moment we only have one suitable building, but there is no room left. The new building MatrixVI has 5 floors. We offer standard laboratories that can be adjusted to a company’s needs. Start ups may want to rent a small unit; bigger companies might be interested in a whole floor. Already companies have shown interest, but we expect to be able to offer rentals for the upcoming years. There will be a restaurant with an outdoor café at the ground floor. The building will be finished early 2013.”
MATRIX Innovation Center started end ’80, as a cooperation between the City of Amsterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Rabobank Amsterdam and the ) UvA. Their aim is to facilitate (starting) companies in the ICT, new media and Life Science sectors. MATRIX Innovation Center offers housing and services for 80 companies already. The development of MatrixVI has also been financed with the European Fund for Regional Development of the European Commission.
20-12-11
New Laboratories and offices for Life Science in Amsterdam
At Science Park Amsterdam, alongside top university and research institutes, Life Science start- ups will soon get 6.000 m2 of new laboratory and office space. Recently Carolien Gehrels, alderman economic department of the City of Amsterdam and Paul W. Doop, deputy chairman of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), gave the official go-ahead for the building process of this new building, MatrixVI, to commence.