On Thursday 28 May, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, partners and regional stakeholders gathered for the official opening of The Launch in the Forum Building on the Radboud University campus. The grand opening celebrated not only a new location and name, but above all a shared vision for the future of entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact in the Nijmegen region.
The Launch gives entrepreneurship a central place on the Radboud Campus: right in the middle of education, research and social cooperation. The opening thus marks an important moment for the Nijmegen startup ecosystem, in which knowledge institutions, governments, entrepreneurs and partners are working together ever more intensively on innovation and economic growth.
Innovation as a driver for social impact and employment
The launch focused on how scientific research and innovative ideas can grow into start-ups, collaborations and new forms of employment. The Launch aims to play a connecting role in this by actively bringing talent, research, entrepreneurship and the regional network together. Innovations with social and economic impact are increasingly emerging from Radboud University and Radboudumc. The Launch supports students, researchers and startups in translating these ideas into concrete applications, businesses and collaborations within the region.
A new step for entrepreneurship on campus
The opening of The Launch coincides with the move to the Forum building and the introduction of a new name and identity. Whereas Mercator Launch was strongly linked to the old location, The Launch represents a broader, future-oriented movement around entrepreneurship and innovation on campus. The new location should grow into a visible meeting place where students, researchers, startups and partners can easily find, inspire and strengthen each other.
Building tomorrow's entrepreneurship together
The grand opening brought together parties from the regional ecosystem to jointly look ahead: how do we ensure that innovation finds its way into society faster? How do we better connect science, entrepreneurship and talent development? And how do we thereby strengthen the innovative capacity of the region? With the opening of The Launch, Radboud University and its partners emphasise the importance of entrepreneurship as a driver of social impact, innovation and sustainable economic development in Nijmegen and beyond.
Would you like to find out more? Please contact:
• The Press & Science Communications Team on 024 361 6000 or at media@ru.nl.
