OnePlanet Research Center accelerates innovation through a strong ecosystem

At its location in Wageningen, knowledge, entrepreneurship and technology come together. Gülden Yilmaz is Director of AgriFood & Environment at the research center. Angelique van Helvoort is Project Manager Health and Food at Oost NL. They explain how the research center and the regional development agency strengthen each other.

What does OnePlanet Research Center do?

Gülden Yilmaz: “OnePlanet is a research center that combines science, deep tech and entrepreneurship to develop practical applications. Its founding partners are Radboud University, Radboud university medical center, Wageningen University & Research and imec. Together with its partners, OnePlanet develops ideas from initial concepts into prototypes and validated applications, with the aim of scaling them up. Examples of innovations OnePlanet is working on include an ingestible sensor that measures physiological parameters, a smart toilet seat that combines weight and urine measurements, and a robot that prunes orchards.”

Angelique van Helvoort: “OnePlanet is a very tangible example of how an innovation ecosystem works. International companies are impressed by the close collaboration and the actual products being developed here. In Wageningen, there is even a dedicated exhibition space showcasing these innovations. This is far more effective than talking about collaboration in abstract terms. Here, you can actually see the ecosystem at work.”

Gülden Yilmaz: “Without OnePlanet, bringing different parties together to innovate would take much more time and effort. We bridge the gap between science, technology and the market. Everything here is designed to encourage collaboration.”

How do Oost NL and other regional stakeholders contribute to the research center, and vice versa?

Gülden Yilmaz: “Oost NL brings expertise in business development, investment and business location decisions. It also connects us with companies, both international businesses looking to establish a presence here and regional companies with specific areas of expertise. The regional development agency also plays an important role in bringing innovations developed here to market. OnePlanet operates with a combination of public and private funding. Private funding is increasingly used to finance specific innovation projects, while public funding, including support from the Province of Gelderland, remains essential for long-term research and early-stage technology development.”

Angelique van Helvoort: “Oost NL was involved from an early stage, helping to identify suitable locations and map the regional innovation ecosystem. We also help attract international companies to the region, and OnePlanet has now become a regular stop on fact-finding visits. Being able to demonstrate a functioning innovation ecosystem makes a real difference when encouraging companies to establish themselves here. It creates a win-win-win situation: OnePlanet gains a new partner, Oost NL helps a company establish a presence in the region, and the company benefits from the existing regional network.”

What challenges do you see?

Gülden Yilmaz: “One challenge is the political climate. Ambitions for major societal transitions are high, but funding for early-stage technology development does not always keep pace. This makes it more difficult for new ideas to develop and mature. Government support remains essential, both now and in the future.”

Angelique van Helvoort: “Another challenge is that project budgets are often primarily allocated to personnel, leaving limited resources for hardware and sensor development. AI is only as good as the data it relies on. High-quality sensors, measurement methods and hardware remain essential for generating reliable data.”

Gülden Yilmaz: “Another challenge is the speed at which technology is advancing, making it difficult for educational institutions and businesses to keep up. Through its open innovation programme, OnePlanet brings together students from different educational levels and disciplines to work on innovative projects, preparing them for the future.”

Angelique van Helvoort: “This is also beneficial for the region, as it helps develop the professionals of tomorrow. Access to skilled talent is becoming an increasingly important factor in companies' location decisions. Thanks in part to OnePlanet, the international innovation ecosystem in the East Netherlands is an attractive environment for both businesses and talent.”