Leiden Bio Science Park Director Esther Peters joined Gerry van Bakel on Sleutelstad ‘s Kennismakers to discuss the park’s role in shaping The Future of Health.
The conversation dove into boosting growth in one of Europe’s most dynamic life sciences hubs. Preparing for the future means focusing on a strong human capital agenda to attract and develop top talent and creating the right investment opportunities to help innovators bring their solutions to market. A balance between R&D and production is essential to ensure creativity and scalability thrive.
The park’s ecosystem includes multinationals like Johnson & Johnson , Bristol Myers Squibb, and Astellas Pharma that strengthen global relevance, but much of its potential lies with the start and scale-up companies pushing health innovation’s boundaries.
Recently, companies like Leyden Labs and Alesta Therapeutics secured impressive investments, demonstrating the potential of the innovators at Leiden Bio Science Park. These successes highlight what’s possible when promising startups receive the financial backing they need. However, there’s still a pressing need to ensure all our innovators.
A few things Esther and Gerry talked about:
They discussed the importance of creating a strong investment climate, emphasizing that “it’s important that our rock stars get the capital they need.”
Esther also shared her personal story, starting with her background. After studying law and working in various management and advisory roles, she found her true passion in fostering innovation—something she described as “making my heart beat faster.” This passion ultimately led her to join Leiden Bio Science Park and drive its mission forward.
The conversation also explored the park’s collaborative ecosystem, where multinationals, startups, and academic institutions work together to transform ideas into impactful solutions. Esther highlighted the necessity of bringing fundamental science to market, ensuring that research leads to tangible products that make a difference in people’s lives.
Finally, they discussed the park’s robust educational infrastructure, which includes MBO, HBO, WO programs and the Biotech Training Facility. These institutions play a vital role in shaping the next generation of talent and sustaining the park’s growth as a global hub for health innovation.
The full interview is available in Dutch. Tune in via the link below to hear more about the vision shaping The Future of Health.
