Drumroll! The finalists for the third edition of the LIFE Science Innovation Award have been announced. With pride, the LIFE Cooperative presents the three finalists: Enatom, Neolook Solutions, and Ivy Medical. On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, these three startups will pitch their innovations at the LIFE Science Conference, with this year's theme being "Data Science for Life Science." This conference is organized annually by the LIFE Cooperative and its partners, with the Innovation Award being a key component. The award is presented to the innovation with the greatest impact in the field of life sciences & health, originating from the Northern Netherlands. The jury will decide on September 24 at the Forum Groningen who among the three finalists will receive the prize.
Up until July 8, companies had the opportunity to be nominated for the Innovation Award 2024. From the nominations received, the five-member board of the LIFE Cooperative selected the three finalists. Peter Ketelaar, Director of the LIFE Cooperative, is enthusiastic about the finalists: “Visible impact and regional innovations were the magic words this year. As a board, we carefully evaluated the origin of the innovations, their potential impact, and their relevance to society. All three selected finalists scored highly in these areas. Their innovations are also at a stage where they can truly make a real impact—not just on a regional or national level, but even internationally. I suspect the jury will face a tough decision on September 24.”.
During the final on September 24, the jury will be represented by NV NOM, the Municipality of Groningen, and Health Holland. The winner will receive, in addition to the specially designed trophy, a cheque worth €5,000.
Out of a dozen applications, the innovations from Ivy Medical, Enatom, and Neolook were selected.
Ivy Medical is revolutionizing infusion therapy with its cutting-edge technology. Addressing the challenges of limited mobility for patients and the high workload for nurses, the Ivy Duo+ has been developed, a next-generation infusion system. This portable infusion pump allows for clinical infusion therapy from a backpack or shoulder bag, reduces the number of alarms through features like automatic air removal, and automates time-consuming workflows.
Ivy’s mission is clear: more steps for patients, fewer sprints for nurses. Ivy is dedicated to providing its users with the best technology, thereby enhancing freedom and efficiency for both patients and healthcare providers
Caring for premature and vulnerable children in hospitals is intensive. An extra pair of eyes and ears from a distance helps parents, nurses, and doctors provide optimal care. Neolook is developing the ‘Neolook One,’ an advanced camera system with sensors for movement, sound, and light. This system enables live remote consultation and sends livestreams to monitors and medical phones when alarm signals are triggered. This way, doctors and nurses can always keep an eye on their vulnerable patients, no matter where they are. 
Enatom specializes in high-quality 3D visualization techniques in the field of human anatomy. The startup aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice and enhance learning outcomes. Enatom’s intuitive web app provides a highly realistic view of digital anatomy, offering an exceptional learning experience that is accessible anytime, anywhere, on computers, tablets, and VR/AR headsets.
De LIFE Science Conference en Innovation Award are made possible in part by NV NOM, Health Holland, Bedrijvenvereniging WEST, gemeente Groningen, and the LIFE Cooperative.
Registrate now for the conference via https://8raz4ur.momice.events/
Photo by: Jan Buwalda
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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.
