To a green innovation district

The Leiden Bio Science Park was founded 35 years ago. It’s now thriving as never before. The businesses located at the Park are pioneers in innovation and are growing in turnover and staff. Employment opportunities at the Park are increasing fast.

For many years now, Leiden University has been working on developing the Bio Science Park in close collaboration with the municipalities of Leiden and Oegstgeest. This development focuses on transforming elongated business park into an attractive and easily accessible area, rich in greenery and open water and with ample space for meeting, recreation and housing.

As building density on the Park increases, we are creating beautiful parks and central infrastructures like the green Hartlijn. The growing number of attractive residential areas makes it a lively area both during and after office hours. Over the coming years we also plan to create many new restaurants, shops, and other facilities.

Guidelines have been formulated for the design of the public space. All businesses will be assigned a green area of at least five metres along the public road. Native trees will be planted, including willows, ash, oaks and birch. These will give the Park its identity, together with the many open water areas and natural banks.

To promote accessibility, we have built additional access roads, including a new access road from the Plesmanlaan. We are also working on further improving the cycle and pedestrian network. A number of broad walks and a new continuous cycle route from the centre of the city will soon make the area more accessible.

Over the coming years the Park will be further transformed into an innovation district: a high-density area integrating work, housing and restaurants that forms an inspiring environment for entrepreneurship and innovation.

New businesses can be located in the growing number of high-rises and in addition to business areas we will soon offer three attractive housing complexes, parks, and a wide range of restaurants and other facilities to strengthen the residential quality of the area and stimulate the spontaneous encounters so crucial for an innovative entrepreneurial environment.

We feel confident that the realisation of these projects will transform Leiden Bio Science Park into an even stronger incubator for innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration. The more than 20,000 people who work, live and spend time at the Park are driven by a common mission: to use knowledge and innovative power to contribute to the development of new medicines and improving people’s health.