Medicine shortages are still increasing in the Netherlands. Doctors and pharmacists have been sounding the alarm for some time now because crucial medicines are increasingly unavailable to patients. The need for medicine production in the Netherlands is indisputable, but how do you start and strengthen this process? This issue was central during the second edition of the LIFE Sciences Conference on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, led by chairperson Rosanne Hertzberger, in a sold-out Forum Groningen. During this conference, the LIFE Cooperative, together with partners, once again brought together the players of the Life Science & Health sector in (Northern) Netherlands, this year under the theme 'Bringing Back Drug Manufacturing to the Netherlands'.
“I am convinced that in the Netherlands, we can work together towards a strategy that reduces our dependence on foreign countries when it comes to drug development and production. Collaboration is embedded in all of our DNA, and today’s event at Forum Groningen has proven this once again. It’s fantastic to be part of this informal and innovative community in Northern Netherlands,” said keynote speaker Hans Schikan, Top Team Member Life Sciences & Health at Health~Holland.
After Hans Schikan’s keynote session, participants divided into three breakout sessions to gain further inspiration. Among the speakers were Weite Oldenziel, CEO of Ofichem Group, as well as Marieke Meulemans and Brigitte Drees representing PharmaNL, and Ton Rademaker from HTRIC.
In addition to the development and availability of medicines, the advancement of innovative medical equipment is also a key focus within the LIFE Cooperative. This Northern collaborative network of companies and organizations in the Life Science & Health sector in the Northern Netherlands aims to drive innovation and enhance the sector's societal impact through synergy and knowledge sharing.
During the conference, the cooperative’s ambitious goals were clearly outlined. “It is evident that the return of medicine production to the Netherlands is no longer merely a wish but a necessity. The life sciences sector in the North is well-equipped to play an active role in this, focusing on development and production in collaboration with Dutch and European partners,” said Ton Vries, chairman of the LIFE Cooperative.
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The second part of the conference centered on the LIFE Science Innovation Award, which recognizes innovations with significant impact in life sciences and health originating from Northern Netherlands. The award includes a €5,000 prize. From all submissions and nominations, Protyon, Griphingo Pharmaceuticals, XVIVO, and PureIMS were selected as the four finalists. Following an exciting round of pitches, PureIMS emerged as the winner. They received the rotating trophy, specially designed for the LIFE Science Innovation Award by Woodewide Cities.
The LIFE Cooperative is the Northern collaborative network in life sciences and medical technology. Established in 2015, the cooperative strives to strengthen innovation capacity through effective and efficient collaboration. The LIFE Cooperative has a significant impact on the Life Sciences & Health sector in Northern Netherlands, representing more than 50 companies—from startups and SMEs to international players—5,000 FTEs, and €500 million in revenue.
Learn more: www.lifecooperative.nl
The Life Science Conference 2023 was made possible thanks to:
Municipality of Groningen, NV NOM, Health Holland, BOOM, Open Diagnostics, HTRIC, Ofichem, TalentMark, ICON, Campus Groningen, and Kadans Science Partner.
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.
