From the partnership with Hamburg, the Municipality of Groningen has been asked to participate in a “Life Science Learning Expedition” from 3 to 6 June to Occitania (South of France) together with our regional companies. The Occitian region has developed into a progressive player in the field of Life Science.
The purpose of the trip is to deepen our knowledge of the life sciences in the region, explore market opportunities, and further strengthen collaboration with Hamburg and its partners toward the future. The program is being developed and facilitated by the Hamburg Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Life Science Nord Hamburg Cluster, and the Southern French economic development agency ADOCC.
Travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of the participants. The expected costs range between €1,000 and €1,500 per person. The Municipality of Groningen can provide support with advice on flights and hotels (where the group will stay). On-site transport and program costs will be facilitated by Hamburg and Groningen.
The draft program and additional information about the Health Care region of Occitanie can be found here. A limited number of spots are available; registration is open until April 26, 2024, by sending an email to Andreas.Ensing@Groningen.nl.
If you would like to connect with life science companies that are not included in the program, please let us know. Through our partners, we will explore the possibilities of facilitating introductions.
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.
