Red biotechnology, including innovative medicines and therapies, vaccines, personalised diagnostics and advanced treatments, has the potential to become a cornerstone of the Dutch economy, combining economic growth with tangible health impact.
At the request of Peter Wennink, the sector developed a national growth strategy under the leadership of Leiden Bio Science Park. Central to this strategy is Biotech Nexus, a proposed national programme designed to strengthen and coordinate the Dutch red biotechnology ecosystem.
The analysis shows that Biotech Nexus could act as a powerful economic lever. Every euro of public investment is expected to generate an average of €2.5 in private investment and nearly €2 in additional economic activity. The programme would allocate public funding based on transparent criteria, bundle regional strengths, accelerate knowledge valorisation and support companies in scaling up.
Through this coordinated approach, the Netherlands can strengthen its international position and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global biotech landscape.
The sector stresses that this potential can only be realised if key growth conditions are substantially improved. Structural bottlenecks in financing, physical space and regulatory procedures currently limit the ability of entrepreneurs to scale their innovations.
Access to growth capital, sufficient laboratory and production space, and predictable, efficient procedures are essential to enable companies to develop, test and manufacture new therapies in the Netherlands.
“The Netherlands has a unique concentration of knowledge, companies and talent,” says Esther Peters, Director of Leiden Bio Science Park. “Red biotechnology is a field in which we can truly excel internationally. But that requires reliable access to capital, space and modern procedures for entrepreneurs.”
“If we organise these conditions properly, the sector can make a major contribution to our future economy and to better healthcare. This is the moment to act, to avoid falling behind in the global competition with countries such as the United States and China.”
According to Annemiek Verkamman, Director of hollandbio, Biotech Nexus is intended to function as the national engine for red biotechnology. “It will stimulate the growth and scaling of young companies by improving access to growth capital, strengthening the professional use of scientific knowledge, and supporting entrepreneurs through experienced founders and investors.”
In addition, the sector’s growth strategy outlines three illustrative national projects aimed at stimulating business growth, attracting investment, and accelerating the development of new therapies, diagnostics and solutions for infectious diseases.
The Netherlands already benefits from strong regional clusters, high-quality infrastructure and internationally recognised knowledge institutions. To unlock the full growth potential of red biotechnology, further steps are needed. These include improved access to capital and talent, secure and shared access to (bio)data, predictable and efficient regulatory processes for permits and clinical research, faster market access for innovations, and sufficient physical space for research, scaling and production.
“The Netherlands has a strong Life Sciences & Health ecosystem with significant potential, but the domestic market remains the weak link,” says Carla Vos, Director of the Association of Innovative Medicines. “The growth strategy will only succeed if innovations developed here also become available to patients here.”
“At present, spending on innovative medicines is relatively low and patient access often takes too long. Improving this will help the Netherlands retain and expand its position, while directly benefiting patients.”
Leiden Bio Science Park is the largest Life Sciences & Health cluster in the Netherlands and one of the leading science parks in Europe. More than 500 organisations work there daily on solutions for the health challenges of today and tomorrow, ranging from early research to large-scale production.
By bringing companies, research institutes and talent together in one location, the park fosters close collaboration and accelerates the path from innovation to patient impact. This concentration of expertise has enabled Leiden to grow into a place where new companies can scale and innovations reach patients more quickly.
Leiden Bio Science Park plays a national and international role within the biotech ecosystem. To continue fulfilling this role, investments are needed now, both in campus infrastructure and in the broader conditions that enable sector growth.
Globally, the life sciences and biotech sector is growing at an annual rate of 8.6 percent. Other countries, within and beyond Europe, are investing heavily. The international competition is intensifying.
Esther Peters concludes: “We have outstanding life sciences and biotech companies with the potential to become global players, whether in the fight against cancer, diabetes or infectious diseases. But the Netherlands must make a clear choice. In simple terms, more investment and fewer barriers. Otherwise, promising companies will move abroad, which would be damaging not only for our economy, but also for patients and the quality of healthcare in the Netherlands.”
Download and read the report here: http://rapportwennink.nl
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