Tjerk Opmeer from the Ministry of Economic Affairs at Leiden Bio Science Park

We recently hosted Tjerk Opmeer from the Ministry of Economic Affairs at Leiden Bio Science Park to share insights into building a shared investment agenda for Dutch biotech.

Joined by leaders from universities, industry, and government, Esther Peters from Leiden Bio Science Park and Annetje Ottow from Leiden University opened the session by highlighting our park’s role in driving biotech innovation and economic growth.

The discussion focused on translating the national biotechnology vision into a tangible action agenda. Without a unified investment framework, there is a real risk of losing the hard-won leadership of our ecosystem. Our park’s triple helix structure, which integrates knowledge, entrepreneurship, and policy, remains essential for ensuring biotech breakthroughs reach patients and markets.

Practical insights came from the scale-ups pushing boundaries: @LeydenLabs, Meatable, and VarmX. Contributions from Nieke Campagne, Anouschka Versleijen from Luris, and Koen Venekamp from Johnson & Johnson emphasized the importance of linking early-stage R&D with commercial pathways.

By aligning interests and investments, we can keep the Netherlands at the forefront of life sciences innovation.