Science & Research

World-class research infrastructure at your fingertips

Access 7 faculties, leading research institutes, and cutting-edge facilities at VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC. From data science labs to medical imaging centres, from patient cohorts to interdisciplinary collaborations - everything a researcher needs, at walking distance.

Faculties

7 faculties, one campus

VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC bring together a uniquely broad range of academic disciplines. From natural sciences to law, from medicine to humanities - all within walking distance.

Faculty of Science

A powerhouse for fundamental and applied research in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics. Home to leading AI and data science groups.

Biology Chemistry Physics Computer Science Mathematics

Faculty of Medicine

Integrated with Amsterdam UMC (location VU), one of the largest academic medical centres in The Netherlands. Direct access to clinical research, trials, and patient cohorts.

Clinical Research Oncology Neuroscience Immunology

Behavioural & Movement Sciences

Psychology, educational sciences, and human movement sciences. Unique expertise in cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, and sport science.

Psychology Education Movement Sciences

Faculty of Humanities

Philosophy, history, literature, art, and language studies. Essential for the ethical, cultural, and societal dimensions of innovation and technology.

Philosophy Ethics Language & Culture

Faculty of Social Sciences

Sociology, political science, communication science, and anthropology. Key research on governance, public health policy, and social impact of technology.

Sociology Political Science Communication

Faculty of Law

Expertise in intellectual property, health law, technology regulation, and international law. Critical for navigating the legal landscape of innovation.

IP Law Health Law Tech Regulation

School of Business and Economics

The bridge between research and market. Expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation management, finance, and strategy. Home to programmes that help researchers turn discoveries into ventures and help businesses embed cutting-edge science into their operations.

Entrepreneurship Innovation Management Finance Strategy
Research Institutes

Interdisciplinary research at scale

VU Amsterdam's research institutes bring together experts from multiple faculties to tackle society's most pressing challenges. These are the engines of cross-disciplinary innovation.

A-LIFE

Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment

Addressing grand challenges at the intersection of health and environment. From climate change effects on biodiversity to green chemistry and sustainable energy solutions.

Amsterdam Neuroscience

Brain & Behaviour Research

One of the largest neuroscience research communities in Europe. Spanning molecular neuroscience, cognitive research, neuroimaging, and clinical translation for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Amsterdam Public Health

Population Health & Prevention

Research on healthy ageing, mental health, quality of care, and global health. Bridging clinical medicine with social science to improve public health outcomes at population scale.

Cancer Center Amsterdam

Oncology Research & Treatment

A comprehensive cancer research centre uniting basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. From tumour biology and immunotherapy to precision medicine and survivorship.

Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences

Heart & Vascular Research

Multidisciplinary cardiovascular research spanning atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. Connecting bench science with bedside care to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Amsterdam Movement Sciences

Rehabilitation & Human Performance

Dedicated to understanding human movement and physical activity. Research spans sports science, rehabilitation, musculoskeletal health, and innovative assistive technologies.

Facilities

Cutting-edge research facilities

From high-performance computing to advanced medical imaging - our campus houses state-of-the-art infrastructure that fuels breakthrough research.

ADORE

Amsterdam Data-driven Operations & Research Environment

High-performance computing and secure data environment for large-scale data analysis, machine learning, and AI-driven research. Supports sensitive data processing with enterprise-grade security.

Imaging Center

Advanced Medical Imaging

State-of-the-art MRI, PET, and CT scanning facilities. Including ultra-high-field MRI for brain research, whole-body PET/CT for oncology, and dedicated research time slots for academic and industry collaborations.

New Beta Research Building

Modern Science Laboratories

The new home for the Faculty of Science, housing cutting-edge laboratories for physics, chemistry, and biology. Designed for interdisciplinary collaboration with flexible lab spaces and shared equipment cores.

Faculty Laboratories

Specialised Research Labs

A wide array of specialised laboratory facilities including genomics labs, proteomics platforms, cell culture facilities, biobanks, and clean rooms. Available for both internal researchers and industry collaboration.

Unique Advantage

Access to patient cohorts

One of the most distinctive features of Innovation District Zuidas is the direct connection to Amsterdam UMC's patient populations. This gives researchers and industry partners unmatched opportunities for clinical research and trials.

Amsterdam UMC is one of the largest academic medical centres in The Netherlands, serving over 400,000 patients annually. This provides access to diverse, well-characterised patient cohorts across virtually every medical speciality - from oncology and cardiology to neurology and rare diseases.

Clinical trials on site

Run clinical trials with direct access to patients and clinical infrastructure within the same campus

Longitudinal cohort data

Access to well-established longitudinal cohorts with years of follow-up data across multiple domains

Biobank access

Extensive biobank collections with tissue samples, blood samples, and genomic data linked to clinical records

Real-world evidence

Generate real-world evidence from electronic health records and routine care data for regulatory and market access

Amsterdam UMC

Location VU Medical Center

400K+

Patients annually

7,500+

Researchers

200+

Active clinical trials

50+

Medical specialities

From bench to bedside in one campus. No other innovation district in The Netherlands offers this level of clinical integration.

Ready to connect with our research community?

Whether you are looking for research collaboration, access to facilities, or exploring clinical trial opportunities - our team can help you navigate the ecosystem.

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