After an evening full of inspiration, insights and networking opportunities, "Founder Talks " looks back on an extremely successful event in the Forum Groningen. Led by Renee van der Sluis, the 100 enthusiastic participants were inspired by the stories of founders and entrepreneurs Rutger Flink (PulmoTech) and Gunnar Flik (Ardena). For the 21st edition of this event, Founded in Groningen, Founded in Friesland and the LIFE Cooperative have joined forces to share the successes and challenges of entrepreneurs and to network during this event. In connection with the LIFE Cooperative's 10th anniversary, the theme of this edition was life sciences.
Gunnar Flik, founder of renowned life sciences companies such as Brains On-Line, shared valuable experiences and insights with the audience as a serial entrepreneur. He spoke candidly about the companies he started over the years, why several of them also failed, and how you learn a lot from those very failures.
The originally Dutch research center Brains On-Line was sold to American Charles River Laboratories International in 2017, additionally marking the company's global impact. Gunnar Flik also stood at the cradle of the LIFE Cooperative, which was founded in 2014 by SME entrepreneurs, because they saw that they achieve more together than alone.
Rutger Flink, founder of PulmoTech, is also part of the LIFE Cooperative with his promising startup. Flink shared his inspiring entrepreneurial journey and the launch of PulmoTech. During the conversation, the phrase "taking a long breath" often came up. PulmoTech is developing a special catheter to better adjust ventilation in intensive care patients. His personal story about the challenges, his motivation, and the journey of starting a business in this sector impressed the audience.
Peter Ketelaar, director LIFE Cooperative: "As a cooperative from and for life sciences, health and medtech companies in the Northern Netherlands, we are incredibly proud that this event took place. The power of collaboration has been incredibly important to us for ten years and it is therefore very valuable that entrepreneurs like Gunnar Flik and Rutger Flink want to share their insights with us in the field of entrepreneurship and as founders. In addition, Founded promotes entrepreneurship in the Northern Netherlands, and we thank Founded for the excellent cooperation and the opportunity to put these two respected entrepreneurs in the spotlight in an appropriate way so that we can all learn from them."
Photo: Douwe de Boer
Who is developing the most impactful innovation in Life Sciences & Health in the Northern Netherlands? Five companies are in the running for the LIFE Science Innovation Award 2026: Flux Robotics, Limosa Immunodiagnostics, SPCTR, MimeCure and GlycanScan International. The nominees will present their innovations on Tuesday 22 September during the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference in Groningen. An independent jury will select the winner, who will receive a €10,000 cash prize.
ZonMw is expected to open the final call for proposals within the PharmaNL Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) program line. This program line focuses on strengthening the infrastructure for the development, upscaling, and production of innovative medicines in the Netherlands.
As the largest medical sterilization centre in the Benelux, SteriNoord B.V. provides safe, reliable, and high-quality reprocessing of medical instruments. With state-of-the-art technology and a team of dedicated professionals, the organisation plays an essential role in supporting high-quality healthcare.
