About
Our purpose
Rotterdam Square is the organization that connects the Life Sciences & Health ecosystem in the Rotterdam region.
Rotterdam Square brings together experts in healthcare, science and technology from academia and industry, to accelerate Health&Tech innovations and create healthcare solutions for the future. As the campus organization of the Erasmus MC Campus – located in the vibrant heart of Rotterdam – Rotterdam Square fosters an innovative ecosystem where medical, social, and technological sciences converge with research, education, and business. The campus serves as a central hub for collaboration with Erasmus MC, Erasmus University, and Delft University of Technology, driving progress in health and technology while working closely with the Municipality of Rotterdam.
As the driving force behind Rotterdam’s thriving Life Sciences & Health ecosystem, Rotterdam Square connects researchers and companies at regional, national, and international levels. Through networking events, strategic partnerships, and deep sector expertise, we support companies in navigating and contributing to the Rotterdam Health&Tech landscape. Additionally, we help businesses secure the right office or lab space in Rotterdam, collaborating with partners such as InnovationQuarter, Invest in Holland, and Health~Holland, to ensure seamless integration into the Dutch Life Sciences & Health ecosystem.
Our story
Rotterdam Square: driving innovation in Health&Tech
“We have brilliant scientists here, but they are not entrepreneurs. If we want to bring products to the market, there needs to be a collaboration between those two.”
Watch our corporate video to discover how we drive innovation in the Rotterdam Life Sciences & Health ecosystem. Learn about our key services and how we connect industry, research, education, and government, to shape the future of healthcare. Join us in making an impact!
Our mission
Where tech meets healthcare
Rotterdam Square boosts the synergy, possibilities and awareness of the Life Sciences & Health sector. We do this by connecting, facilitating and inspiring.
Our vision
Success through synergy
We believe that success can be achieved through synergy, and we actively use the networking effect to bring the Life Sciences & Health community together and strengthen the ecosystem.
Our focus areas
Health&Tech
We bring together companies and researchers to discover new Health&Tech products and services that benefit patients and transform healthcare – focusing on AI, diagnostics, and MedTech.
Our team
Since June 2022 Ellen Smit is Managing Director of Rotterdam Square. She has a Master degree in Economics from the Free University Amsterdam. She developed her experience in the Life Sciences & Health sector when she was as a Senior Account Manager at Leiden Bio Science Park foundation. “In my current role at Rotterdam Square I use my Leiden experience to set up and build the Life Sciences & Health ecosystem in the Rotterdam region.”
ellen.smit@rotterdamsquare.nl
+31 (0)6 57 17 58 64
+31 (0)6 57 17 58 64
Sharon Mullen has been working in the Life Sciences & Health ecosystem for the past six years and supporting the positioning of the Netherlands as a location for international LS&H companies. Working with many international companies she has helped them successfully establish their business and connected them with the ecosystem for collaboration. “As part of the team at Rotterdam Square, I am excited to share more opportunities for collaboration at the Erasmus MC Campus and see how I can connect the researchers, healthcare experts and industry, so we can accelerate Health&Tech innovations for the future.”
sharon.mullen@rotterdamsquare.nl
+31 (0)6 11 16 06 25
+31 (0)6 11 16 06 25
After studying Communications in Rotterdam, Aniek van Rijn is currently working as the Marketing & Communications Manager at Rotterdam Square. “In this role, I am responsible for all marketing and communication activities of Rotterdam Square, aligning these efforts with our goals and objectives. My aim is to strengthen the identity and positioning of Rotterdam Square, the city of Rotterdam, and the Erasmus MC Campus within the Life Sciences & Health network. Being part of this new, dynamic organization is very rewarding and I am constantly learning new things about the Life Sciences & Health sector. For any marketing and communications related inquiries, feel free to contact me.”
aniek.vanrijn@rotterdamsquare.nl
+31 (0)6 22 94 40 58
+31 (0)6 22 94 40 58
For the past 20 years, Claudia Sprenger de Rover worked for a Cardiovascular Research Organization, where she organized events and supported the Board. Claudia is now Office Manager at Rotterdam Square. “I want to use my knowledge and experiences to work together with our team on the development of this exciting, innovative ecosystem, and to put Rotterdam Square on the map nationally and internationally by organizing events.”
claudia.sprenger@rotterdamsquare.nl
+31 (0)6 22 65 02 00
+31 (0)6 22 65 02 00
Joëlle van der Maarel joined Rotterdam Square as Event Manager in March 2025, bringing four years of experience in the marketing and events industry. Passionate about organizing events, she aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the healthcare sector. “The healthcare industry faces major challenges and I believe that knowledge sharing and innovation are the keys to sustainable solutions. I am convinced that through innovative events and collaborations, we can make a positive impact on healthcare in Rotterdam and beyond. I am looking forward to contributing to this mission!”
joelle.vandermaarel@rotterdamsquare.nl
+31 (0)6 22 35 27 87
+31 (0)6 22 35 27 87
Carola Immerzeel-Goosens has been working at Erasmus MC for almost 25 years, currently at the Technology Transfer Office (TTO). “Within TTO I am coordinator of the support team, patent formalities officer and advisor on finance, grants and communications. I’m also the Erasmus MC Incubator Manager: a lab and office facility for start-ups.” Carola works part-time as Project Manager at Rotterdam Square. “I’m looking forward to strengthen the existing ecosystem and support the start-up companies with everything they need to grow. Rotterdam is the place to be!”
carola.immerzeel@rotterdamsquare.nl
+31 (0)6 38 77 95 75
+31 (0)6 38 77 95 75
Our management
Supervisory Board
Dirk Schraven is a member of the Executive Board of Erasmus MC, where he is mainly responsible for digital transformation and innovation, real estate and campus development, and supply chain. An engineer by training, Dirk has been in hospital management for the last 15 years and is passionate about digital and technology innovation in healthcare. “To address the challenges we face in healthcare, we need to innovate with technology partners. With Rotterdam Square, we hope to establish the necessary partnerships to do just that.”
Hicham Shatou is the founder and CEO of LeQuest, a company that focuses on patient safety and improving efficiency in the healthcare industry by closing the gap between medical technology and healthcare professionals. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Rotterdam Square.
