Meet NL Space Campus

Key Region Leiden has several clusters as knowledge partners, including NL Space Campus. The Noordwijk campus is the beating heart of the Dutch space sector and plays a key role in space technology that also makes a difference on Earth. The campus is a valuable addition to our network and will further strengthen our innovation ecosystem.

Incubator for technology and talent

At NL Space Campus, companies, knowledge institutions and governments are working together on groundbreaking technologies with applications beyond space travel alone – think innovations in agriculture, energy and transportation. The campus offers unique facilities such as the CometLab, where students, startups and companies can develop, test and scale up concepts. In addition, a Space Simulation Chamber will open in late 2025, allowing young developers to test their products in a simulated space environment.

Collaboration as a key to growth

Director Marc Sandelowsky emphasizes the importance of cooperation: “By acting together within Key Region Leiden, we create the right preconditions for growth. We can share knowledge, apply for funding together and have a stronger voice in The Hague and Europe. In this way we increase the impact of innovation in the Leiden region and far beyond.”

Opportunities for startups and scale-ups

The campus is closely linked to the technological heart of the European Space Agency (ESA), ESTEC, and houses programs such as ESA PhiLab Netherlands and ESA Technology Broker NL. These initiatives encourage cooperation between research institutions and market players, and help new, sustainable companies with commercial potential get started – including outside the space sector.