King Willem-Alexander has appointed former LIFE Cooperative board members Ton Vries and Johannes Wolters as Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The royal distinctions were festively presented by Mayor Roelien Kamminga of Groningen during the Life Science Conference of the LIFE Cooperative on Tuesday, September 23. The board and team of the cooperative are proud of this recognition, which honors the decades-long commitment and meaningful contributions of these leading figures in the Life Sciences, Health & MedTech sector in the Northern Netherlands—and far beyond.
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Recently, the LIFE Cooperative, together with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), has been working hard on submitting projects to PharmaNL.
From 2026 onwards, SpringBoard, the industry association for medical technology, will continue as part of LIFE Cooperative. This is a logical step, as both organizations pursue the same goals for their members. With this integration, the knowledge, experience, and network of SpringBoard will become part of LIFE Cooperative — the cooperative of more than 60 Northern Dutch Life Science companies. This marks an important step toward strengthening and further growing the Life Science & Health sector in the Northern Netherlands. “We complement each other perfectly and are even stronger together. By joining forces in this way, we increase the effectiveness of the solutions developed to contribute to sustainable healthcare. In doing so, we create economic opportunities for our members!” — Ronald Hesse, Director of LIFE Cooperative Joint ambition Since its founding in 2014, LIFE Cooperative has worked closely and enthusiastically with SpringBoard. On behalf of SpringBoard, Jan Thalens has played an important role in this collaboration by contributing to the further development of the cooperative as a member of LIFE Cooperative’s board. In 2025, SpringBoard decided it was time for the next step. LIFE Cooperative shares this ambition and will further expand its activities in the field of Enabling Technologies & Medical Devices starting in 2026. “Together, we are creating new opportunities for our members and strengthening the ecosystem around medical technology,” says Jan Thalens, board member of SpringBoard . About LIFE Cooperative LIFE Cooperative promotes innovation in the life sciences by facilitating collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors. Through various programs and events, LIFE fosters the development of technologies that improve health and well-being. The cooperative represents more than 60 companies in the Northern Netherlands — from ambitious startups and innovative SMEs to international players. Together, they account for approximately 5,000 FTEs and a turnover of €500 million. About SpringBoard SpringBoard is an independent industry association for medical technology, founded in 2008 as an initiative by former employees of Cordis Roden. The network has grown to about 65 members and promotes innovation and knowledge sharing, supports entrepreneurs, and assists in setting up new companies. SpringBoard has contributed to the creation of seven new companies and around 100 jobs. Through workshops, networking events, and an open innovation platform, SpringBoard strengthens the MedTech sector and the development of human capital in the Northern Netherlands.
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A highlight of the conference was the presentation of two royal honors (Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau) by Groningen Mayor Roelien Kamminga to two former board members of the LIFE Cooperative, Ton Vries and Johannes Wolters. They received this recognition for their exceptional contributions to the organization and to science. "We look back with great pride on this special edition. The royal honors for our former board members Ton Vries and Johannes Wolters are a well-deserved recognition of two careers marked by dedication and entrepreneurship in the Life Science, Health & MedTech sector in Northern Netherlands. Thanks to their vision and commitment, the LIFE Cooperative stands strong today, and we continue to build on the solid foundation they laid," said Peter Ketelaar, board member of the LIFE Cooperative. Conference Highlights The conference featured a rich program, including a presentation of the LIFE Cooperative’s Industry Agenda in development. Inspiring keynotes were delivered by international scientists such as Prof. Jochen Mierau (UMCG, Lifelines) and Annelies de Lange (VIG, Association of Innovative Medicines), who shared new insights on sustainable innovations in health and care. The four companies nominated for the Innovation Award (MemoryLab, QT Sense, Sabiad, and CC Diagnostics) delivered their pitches in a thrilling finale. CC Diagnostics from Groningen emerged as the winner, receiving the €7,500 prize from Linda Dijkshoorn, board member of the LIFE Cooperative. About the LIFE Cooperative The LIFE Cooperative promotes innovation in the life sciences by facilitating collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors. Through various programs and events, LIFE supports the development of technologies that improve health and well-being. The cooperative represents over 60 companies, ranging from ambitious startups and innovative SMEs to international players. Together, they employ over 4,750 FTEs and generate €500 million in revenue. The LIFE Science Conference is an initiative of the LIFE Cooperative and is made possible by the municipalities of Groningen and Assen, Health~Holland, NV NOM, the WEST Business Association, and various other partners and sponsors.
