Changing the urban fabric by working on big urban challenges in the fields of energy, circularity, digitization, climate resilience, mobility and food can help us create the cities we aim for.

At AMS Institute we believe that by generating ideas, talent and collaborations, and closely interacting with cities as we know them today, we can help analyze, design and engineer solutions for the cities we need and aspire. Cities that are more sustainable, prosperous, resilient and just. We call this: re-inventing cities.

Our ambition is to create sustainable metropolitan solutions by realizing a cross-fertilization of ideas: in our research, innovation and educational activities, but also by creating an innovative environment where connections are made between knowledge institutes, private and public organizations.

As such AMS Institute is uniquely positioned to connect science to societal challenges, and solving those together.

“At AMS Institute we focus on research with impact. These urban challenges are complex and multifaceted and require a combination of diverse expertise and perspectives to create feasible and meaningful solutions”

Stephan van Dijk

Director of Innovation

We research, design and test technology-driven solutions

It is revolutions in new technologies, research and design methods that come up with solutions for the challenges our cities are facing. With our research programs we aim to make an impact on the most pressing urban challenges of Amsterdam and the broader agglomeration of cities in the Netherlands (also known as Randstad).

Our research portfolio revolves around six urban challenges that cover the most important urban transitions. We run over 125 research projects. All are defined and executed by interdisciplinary consortia of knowledge institutes, public and private partners, in close collaboration with the City of Amsterdam.

Directly jump to our project portfolios per urban challenge: Smart Urban Mobility | Urban Energy | Climate Resilient Cities | Circularity in Urban Regions | Metropolitan Food Systems | Responsible Urban Digitization

Some of our projects

Project

Urban Bridge and Quay Wall Innovations

Climate Resilient Cities

Urban Bridge and Quay Wall Innovations

Project

Discussing Timber Myths

Circularity in Urban Regions

Project

XCARCITY

Smart Urban Mobility

We generate and foster talent

Knowledge is essential in developing a deep understanding of – and sustainable solutions for – our cities of today and tomorrow, and it’s equally important to educate, attract talent and disseminate knowledge to benefit the Amsterdam Metropolitan area. Our master Metropolitan Analysis Design and Engineering – a joint degree WUR/TUD program is at the heart of our educational activities. Next to the master program, we offer a wide portfolio of education activities, such as the AMS Academy for Professional Education, summer schools and online education via MOOCs.

MSc Metropolitan Analysis, Design and Engineering

Education

MSc MADE - a joint degree from TU Delft and WUR - is at the heart of our educational program. The master program is strongly connected with our other activities on living labs, research & innovation and entrepreneurship.

Professional Education

Education

Education is a vital part of our mission. We do this not only by educating the engineers of tomorrow but also by providing training for the urban professionals of today.

MOOCs

Education

We combine the physical and digital worlds at all levels, blending on-site learning, distance education and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to deliver individualized education at the necessary scale.

We stimulate entrepreneurship

All our research & educational activities and collaborations create new windows opportunities. Ideas for next steps and startups, that just need to see the light of day! With the AMS Startup Booster we propel innovative ideas, create impact through strategic collaborations within our network, and stimulate entrepreneurship.

In this pre-incubation program, we aim to help the next generation of ambitious urban and sustainable startups with their next steps to turn ideas into reality. Ideas resulting from the Msc MADE curriculum, our research activities, but also external startup ideas looking for the right eco-system and a place to grow and develop their business models. Next to running our own startup program, we also contribute to various others startup programs we are connected to, such as the EIT Urban Mobility Accelerator program.

AMS Startup Booster - Apply now!

Entrepreneurship

Ready to turn your innovative idea into a game-changing urban-tech startup? Welcome to the AMS Startup Booster...

Amsterdam Circular

Entrepreneurship

Amsterdam Circular is looking to support early-stage circular startups in and around Amsterdam by providing...

We build partnerships and collaborations

Collaboration is key in finding metropolitan solutions: it grows a deeper and interdisciplinary understanding of the topics at hand and sparks creativity in exploring them. AMS Institute is a networking organization that works with a broad coalition of stakeholders, including academic researchers, industry, civil society, policy makers, and all organizations part of the urban innovation community. The unique partnership with the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Metropolitan Area (AMA), is at the core of AMS Institute.

News

AMS Scientific Conference '24

The AMS Scientific Conference, April 23 - 25, came together as an exciting three days filled with discussions.

News

10 years of AMS, The Playbook

Sharing the key building blocks to create urban impact

We bring together the interdisciplinary nature of our three founding universities

AMS Institute was founded in 2014 by three universities: Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

It’s exactly the combination of expertise and interdisciplinary nature of the three founding universities combined, what makes AMS Institute uniquely positioned to research, design and propel urban innovation.

“The AMS Institute eco-system of scientists, lectures, students and staff is the biggest asset and foundation of our institute. They are our thriving community that create the ideas, talent, collaborations and solutions to re-invent cities.”

Kenneth Heijns

Former Managing Director at AMS Institute

Collaborations & partnerships

Metropolitan solutions are made possible by revolutions in new technologies, research and design methods. No stakeholder can do this alone; finding metropolitan solutions requires cooperation between knowledge institutes, companies, cities and citizens.

News

Annual Report 2023