LIFE Cooperative, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the UMCG received national recognition for the need for a constructive Human Capital approach for the life sciences sector. This Monday, 19th of February, they were informed that their submitted Groningen Human Capital for Life Sciences project had been honored by PharmaNL with €747,000 euros. This subsidy has been awarded in the context of the PharmaNL Human Capital Growth program, a subsidy program to support specific investments in education focused on the pharmaceutical value chain. This program is implemented by ZonMw.
Sven Stielstra, business developer at the LIFE Cooperative, explains the project: “We are actively working on developing a human capital strategy to ensure that our members and partners can attract and retain sufficiently skilled people now and in the future, one of the key challenges of the coming years. To address this, the LIFE Academy is being developed, encompassing various projects. We are very pleased to be taking concrete steps forward with the granted subsidy for Groningen Human Capital for Life Sciences, one of the projects under the LIFE Academy. In addition to the individual projects, we remain committed to strengthening the structural collaboration within the LIFE Academy.”
The Groningen Human Capital for Life Sciences project will support the life sciences sector in the Northern Netherlands by further developing its strongest areas: Gene Technology, Bioinformatics, and Bioanalysis. To achieve this, the project partners will develop and test ten educational modules at both university of applied sciences (HBO) and academic (WO) levels. These modules will provide students and professionals with the opportunity to continue growing in the directions that the industry needs now and in the future. This will enable companies to maintain and strengthen their position in the regional, national, and international pharmaceutical value chain. The project will span a period of three years.
Stielstra: “We’re eager to get started and develop the modules that will directly benefit (young) professionals and companies.”
Carine Joosse, Dean of the Institute of Life Sciences & Technology at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen: “At Hanze University, we’ve been collaborating with the sector for quite some time to train and develop talent specifically for Life Sciences & Health. We’re therefore very pleased that this grant allows us to take an additional step forward.”
Jolanda Smit, Director of the Medical School at UMCG: “This project provides us with the opportunity to jointly develop practical modules in collaboration with the industry, perfectly aligned with our thriving Life Sciences and Health sector.”
The development of this project has been made possible with the support of the Municipality of Groningen and the Municipality of Assen, the Province of Groningen, Drenthe, and Fryslân.
Source picture: Tim van der Kuip
In the North, and in Groningen in particular, there are dozens of companies working on innovations in the fields of life sciences and health. There are many hidden gems among them, says Ronald Hesse, director of the LIFE Cooperative partnership. “Millions of patients worldwide have already benefited from innovations developed here in Groningen,” he says.
Researchers at the UMCG and their spin-off CC Diagnostics, located on Campus Groningen, have developed a new test that could make cervical cancer screening more efficient and user-friendly.
A full house, sharp discussions, and an afternoon in which science and industry visibly strengthened one another. The Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon demonstrated that Groningen is not only a strong geographical spot, but also a substantive force within the Dutch life sciences landscape. The event, organized by FIGON (Federation for Innovative Drug Research Netherlands) in collaboration with LIFE Cooperative, brought professionals from across the Netherlands to the north. Researchers, entrepreneurs, developers, and clinical experts gathered around one shared ambition: to bring innovative medicines to patients faster, smarter, and better.Klaas Poelstra, Chair of FIGON, looks back positively on the event: “It was great to see local businesses in the health sector and leading academic scientists engaging in conversation with one another. They have so much to gain from each other.“From what to how What became particularly clear during the Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon was how rapidly the field of drug development is evolving, and how essential collaboration has become. At a time when therapies are increasingly targeted, complex, and costly, the focus is shifting from only what we develop to how we do so: more intelligently, more sustainably, and better aligned with patient needs. This broader context was already reflected in the opening remarks by Klaas Poelstra, who emphasized the importance of continued innovation for the Netherlands’ competitive position and patient care. On behalf of the LIFE Cooperative, Robert Hof highlighted that regional collaboration is a decisive factor: by bringing science, entrepreneurship, and clinical practice closer together, real acceleration can be achieved. The first substantive contributions made it clear that innovation today is not only about new molecules, but also about new delivery methods. Rob Steendam demonstrated how long-acting microspheres can improve treatment adherence and reduce patient burden. Jaap Wieling showed how inhalation technology is evolving into a platform for both local and systemic therapies. Through her research on polyelectrolyte coacervates, Marleen Kamperman placed these innovations within a fundamental scientific framework. After the break, the discussion shifted to clinical translation and advanced nanomedicines. Flávia Sousa illustrated how polymer-based nanomedicines contribute to targeted brain delivery. Ad Roffel underscored the importance of robust pharmacokinetic studies in an era where the demands for evidence continue to increase. Erik Frijlink reflected on innovation within both existing and new delivery systems, while Helder Santos outlined the potential of RNA delivery via nanotechnology for cardiac tissue repair.More than a program During the closing networking reception, it became clear what participants had gained from the afternoon. As Robert Hof, Board Member of the LIFE Cooperative, put it: “The FIGON Winter Afternoon was an excellent event with distinguished speakers and strong engagement. We look forward to the next edition and extend our sincere thanks to Klaas Poelstra and FIGON for hosting the event in the Northern Netherlands.” The common thread throughout the afternoon was therefore unmistakable: the future of medicines does not lie within a single discipline, but in the connections between them. In a time of increasing healthcare pressure, rapid technological advancement, and international competition, such collaboration is not a luxury—it is a necessity. The Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon showed that this collaboration is firmly rooted in the Northern Netherlands and that Groningen is positioning itself emphatically as a breeding ground and accelerator for innovative drug development.
