Europe's Largest Impact Campus Takes Shape in The Hague
The Hague, Monday, 16 September 2024.
Unknown Group is spearheading the development of Europe’s premier impact campus in The Hague, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative, set to launch fully in September 2024, will connect universities, startups, and industry leaders across Europe, focusing on solutions to global challenges and systemic innovation.
Building a Hub for Innovation
Unknown Group, based in The Hague, South Holland, has been at the forefront of innovation since its founding in 2008. With a team of 51-200 employees, the organization specializes in startup scouting, corporate venturing, innovation management, and venture building. Their latest venture, the impact campus, aims to provide a supportive environment for founders to scale their solutions to global challenges, contributing to a livable future by 2050.
A Collaborative Effort
On 12 September 2024, The Hague University of Applied Sciences joined the Start for Future network, a collaborative initiative that connects universities, startups, industries, and entrepreneurial networks across Europe. This network aims to unlock Europe’s innovation potential by fostering entrepreneurial thinking and systemic innovation. Pavlina Vujović, Managing Director of Start for Future, emphasized the importance of this network in positioning itself as a central hub in the European innovation landscape.
Experience Day at Titaan
The Experience Day at the Titaan Innovation Hub in The Hague, held on 16 September 2024, was a significant event that brought together over 200 students from Hotelschool The Hague, industry experts, and key stakeholders. Keynote speakers included Pieter Olierook (General Manager at Unilever), who discussed the separation of the ice cream business, and Virginia Yanquilevich (CEO at Dopper), who highlighted the importance of impact and purpose over profit. The event aimed to inspire students to tackle real-life challenges as part of their Business Transformation Course.
Impact and Purpose Over Profit
Speakers at the Experience Day emphasized the central theme of impact and purpose over profit. Marieke Steffens, HR Manager at Lidl Nederland, discussed Lidl’s philosophy on continuous improvement, while Tobias Hootsen, Head of Growth & Transformation Europe at Heineken, spoke about the digital transformation of beer. This focus on purpose and impact aligns with Unknown Group’s mission to fuel founders who address global challenges through innovative solutions.
Future Events and Enrollments
The impact campus will host numerous events to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs. The next impact founder meetup is scheduled for 6 November 2024. Additionally, the Unknown University of Applied Sciences, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, encourages students to start their own businesses from day one. Enrollment for the academic year beginning in 2024 closed on 1 September 2024.
A Vision for the Future
Unknown Group’s vision for the impact campus is ambitious. The recent visit by Mark Rutte and Hans Biesheuvel highlighted the importance of this initiative in the Dutch ecosystem. The campus aims to be a catalyst for building Europe’s largest impact hub, referred to as ImpactCity in The Hague. The opening of Titaan in September 2023 has already set the stage for creating a vibrant impact ecosystem, with continued efforts to inspire and support future entrepreneurs.