News item | 29-05-2023 | 07:47
More than fifty innovative Dutch companies (startups, SMEs and large companies) and knowledge institutions will join an economic mission (Sunday 4 – Friday 9 June 2023) to Boston, United States. They participate in the BIO International Convention, the largest global event and fair in the field of biotechnology. Ministers Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate) and Ernst Kuipers (Health, Welfare and Sport) jointly lead the trade mission in Boston.
The economic mission is all about further international cooperation in the field of Life Sciences & Health and presenting the Dutch sector to American companies, researchers and investors. In addition, both cabinet members also have separate talks with government representatives, companies and organizations in the American capital Washington DC on themes such as healthcare, research & innovation and economic cooperation.
Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate): “The Netherlands is strong when it comes to biomedical innovation with promising start-ups and scale-ups that contribute to regenerative medicine, for example. We are the European metropolis with the most strongly connected Life Sciences & Health sector. Since 2019, we have been working more closely with the US state of Massachusetts to strengthen our economic and scientific ties. This economic mission can give an extra boost to economic cooperation and investments in the field of biotechnology between American and Dutch companies and knowledge institutions.”
Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health, Welfare and Sport): “I look forward to strengthening the remarkable synergy between the American and Dutch biotech and med tech sectors. I am convinced that we must further intensify our international cooperation. By joining forces and working on groundbreaking innovations, we can revolutionize healthcare and medicine. Together, we are poised to shape future healthcare today, enhance quality of life and advance breakthroughs that will inspire generations to come.”
In Boston, both ministers go to the BIO International Convention 2023. They visit the Dutch pavilion and participate in various panel discussions and round table discussions. The ministers will individually visit companies and research institutes that are leading for the successful American sector, both on the stock exchange and in the Boston area with Dutch participants. They are also organizing a so-called ‘Future of Life Sciences’ event together with Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts. This will be attended on Tuesday 6 June by all Dutch participants in the trade mission and representatives from the American sector.
Life Sciences & Health in the Netherlands and Boston
In total, there are 3,000 innovative Life Science & Health companies active in the Netherlands with an economic impact of approximately 7 billion euros. The Dutch LSH sector received an extra boost with the relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to Amsterdam in 2019. The government is investing tens of millions of euros extra in the sector with the National Growth Fund with financing for projects such as RegMedXB, Health RI, PharmaNL, Biotech booster and Oncode PACT.
Boston and the surrounding area is the global heart of the life sciences industry. It is home to more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, ranging from start-ups to multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies. The world’s leading American universities in the area also give the region a large network of scientists and an influx of talent.