The goal behind the establishment of the Open Diagnostics Ecosystem (ODE) was crystal clear in the spring of 2020: to bolster and market the position of North Netherlands as a global player in the field of (medical) diagnostics. As the project draws to a close in December 2023, the initiators reflect upon an exceedingly successful journey. Ton Vries, Chairman of the LIFE Cooperative and initiator of ODE, states, "In a relatively short period, we've successfully shepherded nine projects from eight different companies within ODE. The results of these companies speak volumes: the network infrastructure and substantive financial support have led to tremendous achievements in diagnostics. We take exceptional pride in this."
The Northern region has proven itself within the project as an exceptionally suitable hub for developing innovative diagnostic products. One of ODE's aims was to entice a leading diagnostic player like Roche to establish itself in the region. While this hasn't occurred yet, alliances were forged at various international leading expos such as BIO in Boston and Leipzig, attracting a significant number of startups from the UK to Groningen to foster collaboration and learning.
The eight startups that successfully underwent a learning journey within ODE include Reyedar, Protyon, Neolook, Sabiad, SG Papertronics, Detact Diagnostics, Tagworks Pharmaceuticals, and CC Diagnostics. From bacterial imaging enabling early infection detection at Sabiad to utilizing AI to detect anomalies in premature babies by Neolook, these companies have leveraged the Open Diagnostics ecosystem to boost their innovations. The startups recognize the potency of the ODE network, its accessible approach, and funding as pivotal ingredients for their success. View all projects in the Open Diagnostics Video here.
The learning projects conclude their journeys at ODE in December, marking the successful closure of this initiative. Peter Ketelaar, Director of ODE, emphasizes that the experiences from ODE hint at more opportunities: "From the outset, it was clear this was a journey with a defined beginning and end. However, the positive experiences of participating companies and the successful innovations hint at more. We're proud of the international impact achieved. Therefore, we're currently exploring the prospects of a follow-up to this ecosystem. There's interest from the industry, and we're seriously considering options for a sequel to ODE, in the form of a Life Sciences & Health Portal, not limited to diagnostics but for the entire sector."
""The network infrastructure and substantive financial support have led to tremendous achievements in diagnostics. We take exceptional pride in this.""
Ton Vries Chair of the LIFE Cooperative
Protyon, a medtech startup from Groningen, aims to enhance the quality and prolong the lives of people with cancer, specifically lung cancer. Within ODE, they've developed a prototype of their innovative software technology, Voythea. This technology provides physicians an automated tool for personalized treatment options based on molecular modeling of unknown cancer mutations. The objective is to enhance treatment effectiveness through better analysis of mutations in cancer proteins. Protyon's software generates 3D models of mutated proteins, enabling more precise treatment proposals. Named to capture the essence of the company - a blend of 'Procyon' and 'protein' - Protyon serves as a 'navigator' for physicians, based on the pioneering work of UMCG's Molecular Tumor Board. Their efforts showcase promising results, significantly extending lifespans and improving the quality of life for patients, garnering national and international interest in their technology.
Reyedar focuses on developing preventive diagnostic tools for visual and neurodegenerative conditions. Within ODE, Reyedar furthered its diagnostic tool, contributing, among other things, to early detection of changes in eye movements. By combining swift oculography with artificial intelligence, Reyedar offers medical insights into the nervous system and visual functions. This non-invasive, painless method rapidly gathers extensive information, alleviating pressure on physicians and catering to diverse age groups. They aim to promote telemedicine by developing a system to remotely collect and analyze eye data, enhancing healthcare accessibility. Participation in ODE has propelled Reyedar significantly, as stated by Alessandro Grillini, CEO of Reyedar: "We began the ODE project with a prototype essentially being a bundle of cables holding various components together, and we ended the project with a complete device that has made headlines multiple times in the Dutch optics market."
Source article: ODE
MimeCure heeft een investering van 3 miljoen euro binnengehaald voor de ontwikkeling van een regeneratief geneesmiddel voor de behandeling van chronische longziekten, zoals longfibrose. Dankzij deze financiering kan MimeCure de afronding van de preklinische fase versnellen en beginnen met de voorbereidingen voor klinische proeven, die volgens planning eind 2027 van start zullen gaan. De investeringsronde wordt geleid door Addington Investment Group en ondersteund door mede-investeerder Apsara Investments.
Turning plans into results: that is the central focus of the fifth LIFE Science Conference, taking place on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 at Forum Groningen. The LIFE Cooperative will bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers from the life sciences and health sector around one key question: how do we translate vision into concrete impact? The keynote speaker will be Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML and one of the most influential leaders in the Dutch technology sector. In 2025, he presented his advisory report ‘The Road to Future Prosperity’, in which he advocates targeted investments in innovation to strengthen the Netherlands’ long-term earning capacity.
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.
