In the magazine BiotechNEWS & Life Sciences, the following article recently appeared about the anniversary and the upcoming LIFE Science Conference in September 2024. Board members Ton Vries and Johannes Wolters reflect on a decade of collaboration and growth, during which the number of members grew from 20 to over 60 companies. The LIFE Cooperative has helped local companies achieve international success, with the annual conference as a highlight that promotes innovation and collaboration. Read on to learn more about their achievements and future plans!
Founders and board members Ton Vries and Johannes Wolters vividly recall how it all began ten years ago. Companies and organizations merged to form the LIFE Cooperative, driven by the power of collaboration. About 20 SMEs in Northern Netherlands joined forces in the Life Cooperative, motivated by the desire to collaborate, lobby more effectively, and launch new projects together. Now, ten years later, there are over 60 member companies, ranging from SMEs and startups to partner members within the network. The board has embraced and witnessed the growth of many companies.
There are plenty of examples of players in the LIFE Cooperative who used Northern Netherlands as a springboard to the rest of the world. Pharmaceutical research company ICON (formerly PRA Health Sciences), the world's largest scientific service provider Thermo Fisher, molecule producer Symeres, and tech pioneer Demcon are just a few organizations that are globally active, rooted in the LIFE Cooperative, and have their origins in Northern Netherlands, a region rich in talent and entrepreneurship, which thrives thanks to the cooperative model.
For instance, Polyganics, now known as Regenity after its acquisition by Collagen Matrix. Or Brains Online, which became part of the American Charles River Laboratories. ABL, which merged into the internationally operating Ardena. All born and bred in the region.
Flagships such as QPS, Certe, Lode Holding, Spark, and Ofichem, promising startups, and many long-established companies together form a united force. “We all have the same goal,” says Ton Vries, one of the cooperative’s founders. “We want to elevate the health sector in Northern Netherlands. All the ingredients are here to make a real impact, to significantly improve healthcare, to truly help more people. That’s what it’s all about. Not just for Northern Netherlands, but for the entire world. By joining forces, we are stronger as a partner in discussions. It enables us to attract funds, investments, and projects that would be out of reach for individual parties.”
LIFE Cooperative assists established names with the internationalization of their markets, knowledge sharing, and providing space, personnel, subsidies, and investments. Startups use the cooperative to open markets, seek advice, collaborate, attract investors, and improve business plans. They can access all these services at a “one-stop shop.” This is how the LIFE Cooperative facilitates innovation; efficiently moving from idea to impact.
To further highlight this impact and foster new collaborations, the LIFE Cooperative organizes the LIFE Science Conference. This year it will be held on September 24, 2024. “It’s becoming a real tradition; every year on the fourth Tuesday of September, our conference takes place in Groningen,” says Johannes Wolters, director of Lode Holding and board member of LIFE Cooperative. “In addition to a substantive program with keynote sessions and ample networking opportunities, there is also an encouragement award for startups. This is the Innovation Award, which is given to the innovation with the most impact in the field of life sciences & health, originating in Northern Netherlands.” This year marks the third time the conference is held and the 10th anniversary of the LIFE Cooperative. Interested parties can register for the conference at www.lifecooperative.nl.
Source: BiotechNEWS & Life Sciences
Image Source: LIFE Cooperative
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.
