Lara Ummels has been the Knowledge Broker for Leiden City of Knowledge since 2018. On behalf of Leiden University, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, the Municipality of Leiden, mboRijnland and Naturalis Biodiversity Center she is working to implement the revised cooperation agreement signed by these parties in 2022. In this agreement, they take joint responsibility for a continued commitment to Leiden as City of Knowledge.

The focus here is on three areas in which Leiden excels:

1. Health & Well-Being
2. Biodiversity & Sustainability
3. Culture & Heritage

The partnership has led to dozens of projects, including,

the City Deal Knowledge Making project ‘Learning with the City’, the Leiden Education Field Lab and keeping the legacy of Leiden European City of Science 2022 alive.

Knowledge partners, institutions, entrepreneurs, residents and other parties from the city have joined the various projects. For more information see www.leidenkennisstad.nl. Lara studied law at Leiden University and has held various roles in policy and management, particularly in local government.