Leiden Bio Science Park welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands for a visit that underscored the park’s role as a global hub for biotech innovation. Accompanied by Leiden University Chair Annetje Ottow, he met with key figures in the ecosystem, including Anouschka Versleijen and Diederik Engbersen, to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding academic spin-outs and startup growth.
At Mimetas, a leader in organ-on-a-chip and 3D disease modeling technology, the prince received an in-depth demonstration and engaged in discussions about securing funding for global expansion. The conversation highlighted the critical role of Leiden’s ecosystem in supporting biotech companies as they scale, emphasizing the importance of investment, collaboration, and streamlined innovation pathways.
Several startups shared their founder journeys, providing insight into their groundbreaking work and the hurdles they face. Among them were VitroScan, which is pioneering a drug response platform, Onnes Technologies, specializing in cryogenic nanopositioning, QuantaMap, advancing quantum sensor technology, Secuped, developing medical devices for diabetes, and AVIGI Therapeutics, working on new approaches to combat metastatic cancer.
Throughout the discussions, founders and industry leaders pointed to key issues affecting biotech entrepreneurship. While Leiden Bio Science Park is recognized as an excellent environment for startups, with strong shared facilities and an increasingly supportive infrastructure, challenges remain. The slow pace of contracting processes, limited access to biostatistics expertise, and the need for more targeted support in clinical trial management, go-to-market strategies, and certification were highlighted as areas for improvement. Entrepreneurs also stressed the gap in biotech seed funding, despite the availability of early-stage grants. Financial stability declarations required for many grant applications pose a particular challenge for deeptech startups, creating an additional barrier to securing essential resources.
Prince Constantijn’s visit reinforced Leiden Bio Science Park’s position as a key player in Europe’s biotech landscape. As the ecosystem continues to evolve, his discussions with founders and stakeholders underscored the importance of agility, investment, and policy refinements to ensure that innovation can thrive.
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