Matrix Innovation Center

In mid-2027, Matrix Innovation Center will open its newest building on the VU Campus. The building will house university-related activity such as start-ups, scale-ups and external companies in the fields of Life Sciences, Medtech and AI. Construction work will start at 18 August 2025.

The aim of this new Matrix Innovation Center is to encourage and accommodate entrepreneurship, valorisation and collaboration between universities and industry. Demonstrator Lab VU, currently housed in the W&N building, will also be given a prominent place as a breeding ground for research and innovation.

In 2022, VU Amsterdam became a partner of Matrix Innovation Centers, in which, besides VU Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, municipality of Amsterdam and Rabobank participate. Matrix Innovation Center currently operates seven Innovation Centers on the Amsterdam Science Park, home to more than 100 scientific companies, from start-ups and scale-ups to spin-ins of larger enterprises.

The development of the Matrix Innovation Center on the VU Campus fits into the strategic objectives of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and the City of Amsterdam to strengthen the start-up and scale-up community and, in a literal sense, give more room for growth and innovation.

Start of preparations

From 2 December 2024, preparatory work started to prepare the ground for the construction of the Matrix Innovation Center. This took place on the site at the corner of De Boelelaan and the short section of Gustav Mahlerlaan.
The preparatory work consists of moving and placing new fencing, removing greenery and trees, moving cables and pipes and levelling the site. The work will cause no to limited (noise) nuisance and will be completed before the Christmas break.
Construction work will start in mid-August 2025.
Possible construction nuisance
Construction work will start at 18 August 2025. It is possible that this could cause inconvenience to your lab. This may include noise nuisance and nuisance from work in the ground that transfers vibrations to the Research Building. These are mostly 'low-frequency' vibrations (<10Hz).
Vibration-sensitive activities can be:
- Piling
- Pressing sheet piles
- Basement groundwork / excavating and removing soil with trucks over the site
- Connecting underground basement with the basement of Research building (bicycle cellar)
- Placing/removing shoring frames, demoulding
- Removing/pulling sheet piles
- General: 'bumping' of equipment/material on ground/soil
Together with FCO, we looked at how to limit the nuisance as much as possible.
Measures that have been taken:
- The piles are drilled
- Installing sheet piles by 'pressing'
- Pulling the sheet piles (with crane and silent piler)
In addition, there is 24-hour monitoring. A sensitive sensor is placed in the Research building that will continuously perform measurements (including 2 weeks prior to the start to obtain a '0-measurement').
Alarm values are set (background vibration environment at measuring point + allowance of one vibration class). If these are exceeded, an alarm will be sent to the builder and supervisor, and measures can be taken.
18 August 2025 will mark the actual start of construction.

Matrix Innovation Center

Construction information

Start of preparations

Possible construction nuisance

More information about the Innovation Centre building

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