Photo Kim Zwarts and Marloes Verhoeven
‘I think it’s fantastic that we’ve been nominated,’ responds Chiel van Dijen of real estate developer Kadans Science Partner, enthusiastically. ‘This confirms that we did make a few good decisions.’ Plus Ultra and seven other buildings were selected from 125 entries. The jury will announce the winning building on 19 May. Besides the jury’s choice there is also a public prize, with voting on www.gebouwvanhetjaar.nl
Meanwhile Plus Ultra is filling up slowly but surely. Eighty percent of the space has been allocated, according to Van Dijen. Twelve names were announced earlier, most of them companies moving from elsewhere on the Wageningen campus. The same goes for the next 12 companies to move in.
Among the latest to join are familiar names such as KLV Professional Match and Startlife, now housed in Triton. Wageningen University spinoffs Tyker Technology (GPS-driven machines), Surfix (chemical surface coatings) and Kryt (e-learning in the lab) are moving in from elsewhere in Wageningen too. From Bennekom comes IPSS Engineering (chemical processing equipment).
DIBcoop (development of sustainable business plans) is moving to the campus from Business and Science Park Wageningen, Schothorst Feed Research (development of animal feeds) from Lelystad and the Qing group (machinery) from Arnhem. The biggest fish Kadans has caught will be announced on Friday 8 April, says Van Dijen. With these new companies the technical spaces on the ground floor will be fully occupied. The remaining 20 percent of the building should be occupied by the end of the year.