Wij zijn trots op dat de LIFE Cooperative in de nieuwste editie staan van de Groninger Ondernemers Courant wordt genoemd. Ronald Hesse (LIFE Cooperative) en Maarten Eisema (UMCG) werden voor dit artikel geïnterviewd om enkele voorbeelden te geven van waarom samenwerking tussen bedrijven en kennisinstellingen zo belangrijk is. Lees hier het hele artikel:
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.
LIFE Cooperative is a cooperative association comprising more than sixty start-ups, scale-ups, innovative SMEs and international players in the life sciences and health sectors. There is close collaboration with knowledge institutions such as the University Medical Centre Groningen and the University of Groningen, where many member companies have their origins. The aim is clear: to strengthen the life sciences & health ecosystem in the Northern Netherlands through collaboration, talent development and the realisation of new innovations. This can be read in the latest edition of the print edition of the Groninger Ondernemers Courant.
Groningen’s polymer chemistry as an international force
According to Hesse, Groningen stands out in areas such as high-quality polymer technology. To illustrate this, he points to the medical technology company Polyganics. Using biomedical polymers, the company has developed a brain patch which, following surgery, prevents fluid leakage in the brain and also dissolves naturally within the body.
Innocore also works with biodegradable polymers. The company is developing technology that enables medicines to be released into the body in a controlled manner over a longer period, up to twelve months. Hesse sums it up: “High-quality polymer chemistry is one of the things we excel at in Groningen. We must nurture and build on that.”
To raise the profile of these and other economic gems, LIFE Cooperative drew up an industry agenda. This agenda highlights the region’s strengths and where the opportunities for growth lie. The aim is to attract partners and investors and to accelerate new collaborations, investments and economic growth. “We need to show what we have to offer here.”
From innovation to practical application
Throughout the entire development process leading to clinical application, collaboration with the UMCG Innovation Centre is crucial. After all, medical innovations must not only function technically, but also be clinically validated. Hesse cites the XVIVO organ perfusion pump, developed in Groningen, as an example. This is a device that keeps livers, kidneys and other human organs in good condition and prepares them for transplantation. “Ultimately, such an invention must be tested and applied in practice, on real organs,” says Hesse. “Thanks to the UMCG, that can be done here in Groningen.”
The UMCG Innovation Centre plays a connecting role in this. It brings together companies, researchers and healthcare professionals and helps to test, validate and implement innovations in clinical practice. Maarten Eisema, Head of Strategic Relations at the UMCG Innovation Centre: “We ensure that innovations, people and organisations find each other. In this way, we bridge the gap between research, entrepreneurship and patient care.”
Physical collaboration at the Healthy Ageing Campus
The close collaboration between LIFE Cooperative and the UMCG will soon take physical shape. At the Healthy Ageing Campus, on Oostersingel in Groningen, both organisations will soon be based in an easily accessible, redeveloped listed building.
The Innovation Centre will establish its office there, and a number of companies from the LIFE Cooperative network will also move in. As proximity further strengthens the collaboration, existing and new innovations will find their way to patients and residents more quickly.
Researchers at the UMCG and their spin-off CC Diagnostics, located on Campus Groningen, have developed a new test that could make cervical cancer screening more efficient and user-friendly.
A full house, sharp discussions, and an afternoon in which science and industry visibly strengthened one another. The Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon demonstrated that Groningen is not only a strong geographical spot, but also a substantive force within the Dutch life sciences landscape. The event, organized by FIGON (Federation for Innovative Drug Research Netherlands) in collaboration with LIFE Cooperative, brought professionals from across the Netherlands to the north. Researchers, entrepreneurs, developers, and clinical experts gathered around one shared ambition: to bring innovative medicines to patients faster, smarter, and better.Klaas Poelstra, Chair of FIGON, looks back positively on the event: “It was great to see local businesses in the health sector and leading academic scientists engaging in conversation with one another. They have so much to gain from each other.“From what to how What became particularly clear during the Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon was how rapidly the field of drug development is evolving, and how essential collaboration has become. At a time when therapies are increasingly targeted, complex, and costly, the focus is shifting from only what we develop to how we do so: more intelligently, more sustainably, and better aligned with patient needs. This broader context was already reflected in the opening remarks by Klaas Poelstra, who emphasized the importance of continued innovation for the Netherlands’ competitive position and patient care. On behalf of the LIFE Cooperative, Robert Hof highlighted that regional collaboration is a decisive factor: by bringing science, entrepreneurship, and clinical practice closer together, real acceleration can be achieved. The first substantive contributions made it clear that innovation today is not only about new molecules, but also about new delivery methods. Rob Steendam demonstrated how long-acting microspheres can improve treatment adherence and reduce patient burden. Jaap Wieling showed how inhalation technology is evolving into a platform for both local and systemic therapies. Through her research on polyelectrolyte coacervates, Marleen Kamperman placed these innovations within a fundamental scientific framework. After the break, the discussion shifted to clinical translation and advanced nanomedicines. Flávia Sousa illustrated how polymer-based nanomedicines contribute to targeted brain delivery. Ad Roffel underscored the importance of robust pharmacokinetic studies in an era where the demands for evidence continue to increase. Erik Frijlink reflected on innovation within both existing and new delivery systems, while Helder Santos outlined the potential of RNA delivery via nanotechnology for cardiac tissue repair.More than a program During the closing networking reception, it became clear what participants had gained from the afternoon. As Robert Hof, Board Member of the LIFE Cooperative, put it: “The FIGON Winter Afternoon was an excellent event with distinguished speakers and strong engagement. We look forward to the next edition and extend our sincere thanks to Klaas Poelstra and FIGON for hosting the event in the Northern Netherlands.” The common thread throughout the afternoon was therefore unmistakable: the future of medicines does not lie within a single discipline, but in the connections between them. In a time of increasing healthcare pressure, rapid technological advancement, and international competition, such collaboration is not a luxury—it is a necessity. The Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon showed that this collaboration is firmly rooted in the Northern Netherlands and that Groningen is positioning itself emphatically as a breeding ground and accelerator for innovative drug development.
Innovation in medicines takes center stage on Thursday, 26 February during the Dutch Medicines Winter Afternoon, an inspiring event organized by FIGON (Federation for Innovative Drug Research Netherlands) in collaboration with the LIFE Cooperative.
