Plus Ultra, the meeting place for starting and growing knowledge intensive businesses, is nearing completion. The first companies will move in before the new year. Twelve names have been announced, shares Chiel van Dijen spokesman for Kadanz. Among the twelve there is one starter: NutriLeaks, a business that develops novel ingredients for food.
Among the twelve there are two communication agencies (Schuttelaer & Partners and Jenx), two recruitment agencies (CLS Services, Agrojobs), an educational organization (AOC Raad) and an educational publisher for green education (Ontwikkelcentrum). Furthermore, a patent consultancy (Ellens & van Essen), a branch organization for processing residues to bio based raw materials (BVOR) and a foundation that is dedicated to the sustainability of the eel sector (Dupan).
The list is completed by the Chinese dairy giant Yili that is now in Radix, a producer of driving simulators (Green Dino). The twelve only fill the building for about one-fourth, says Van Dijen. He expects to quickly announce more names in the new year. ‘Many companies are interested. If we want to accommodate all businesses, we would have to already expand.’
Three businesses are currently elsewhere on campus. Four of the twelve have a place at the Agro Business Park. Yet Van Dijen does not think that Plus Ultra will ‘cannibalise’ the ABP. ‘I do not believe that. This is about small businesses that are really choosing to settle on campus.’ Van Dijen acknowledges that still mainly offices have been filled up. ‘But this gives an inaccurate image that will be corrected.’