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New Master Plan for the Biotechnology Sector in the Netherlands!

LEIDEN – Targeted investments in red biotechnology will lead to a structural GDP boost of 1.2 percentage points, 20,000 additional high-quality jobs and faster access to innovations for patients. This is shown by an economic analysis conducted by KPMG. As a result, red biotechnology – innovative medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and advanced therapies – can grow into a cornerstone of the Dutch economy.

The analysis was prepared in the context of the national investment agenda presented on Friday by Peter Wennink.

National ambitions

KPMG demonstrates that targeted investments in Biotech Nexus – the proposed national programme for the sector – have a strong economic multiplier effect: every euro of public investment generates on average €2.50 in private investment and almost €2 in additional economic activity.

Biotech Nexus coordinates and allocates public funding on the basis of transparent criteria. It is intended to bring together regional strengths, accelerate knowledge valorisation and support companies in scaling up. This will enable the Dutch biotech ecosystem to take on a leading international position.

Pivot Park Oss: biopharmaceutical hub

“Pivot Park endorses this analysis and, together with the region, can play a crucial role in making it a reality,” said Brigitte Drees, CEO of Pivot Park.

“If the Netherlands fully supports this plan, it will increase our European relevance and our earning capacity. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) recently reported, for example, that its Seed Capital Scheme in Oss achieved the highest return in the country: €11 million in investments generated €108 million.”

Pivot Park is a leading campus where the entire value chain is present for discovering, developing, manufacturing and distributing medicines, including those based on biotechnology.

National engine

“This initiative will serve as the national engine for red biotechnology,” said Annemiek Verkamman, Director of hollandbio. “It will stimulate the growth and scaling of young companies by improving access to growth capital, strengthening the professional exploitation of scientific knowledge, and supporting start-ups through experienced entrepreneurs and investors.”

In addition, the sector’s own growth strategy proposes three illustrative national projects that contribute to business growth, capital attraction and the development of new therapies, diagnostics and solutions for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Fewer rules, more data, faster access

The Netherlands has strong clusters, high-quality infrastructure and internationally recognised knowledge institutions. To fully realise the sector’s growth potential, stronger framework conditions are required. These include access to capital and talent, shared and secure access to (bio)data, predictable and efficient procedures for permits and clinical research, rapid market access for innovations, and sufficient physical space for research, scale-up and production.

The Netherlands holds a goldmine

“The Netherlands has a unique concentration of knowledge, companies and talent,” said Esther Peters, Director of Leiden Bio Science Park.

“Red biotechnology is a sector in which we can truly excel internationally. But entrepreneurs must be able to rely on access to capital, space and modern procedures. If we organise these conditions properly, the sector can make a huge contribution to our future economy. Now is the time to push forward to avoid falling behind competition from the US and China.”

Realising additional growth

“The Netherlands has a strong Life Sciences & Health ecosystem with great potential, but the domestic market remains the weak link,” said Carla Vos, Director of the Association of Innovative Medicines. “The strategic growth plan will only work if innovations developed here are also made available here. At present, spending on innovative medicines is low and patient access often takes too long. If this improves, the Netherlands can maintain its position and even achieve substantial growth.”

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