The Netherlands is set to strengthen its economic and scientific ties with the United States through a dedicated trade mission focused on Life Sciences & Health. Over fifty innovative Dutch companies, including startups, SMEs, and large businesses, along with knowledge institutes, will participate in the mission to Boston, where they will showcase the strength of the Dutch ecosystem to US partners and investors at the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest annual expo and event for biotechnology. Leading this important trade mission from June 4 to 9, 2023, will be Ministers Micky Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Ernst Kuipers of Health, Welfare, and Sport. The ministers will also hold separate meetings with federal US partners in Washington D.C.
Minister Micky Adriaansens emphasized the flourishing Life Sciences & Health ecosystem in the Netherlands, highlighting the significant contributions of promising startups and scale-ups in areas such as regenerative medicine. He expressed confidence that this trade mission would open up economic opportunities for collaboration and investment between US and Dutch companies and knowledge institutions in the field of life sciences and biotechnology. The Netherlands prides itself on being Europe’s connected Life Sciences & Health metropolis and has been working closely with Massachusetts since 2019 to strengthen economic and scientific ties.
Minister Ernst Kuipers shared his enthusiasm for the remarkable synergy between the US and the Netherlands in the biotech and med tech sectors. He emphasized the importance of intensifying the relationship between the two countries to revolutionize healthcare through cutting-edge innovation, ultimately reshaping the future of the industry. Minister Kuipers believes that by joining forces, the Netherlands and the US can unlock new frontiers in medicine, empowering lives and inspiring generations to come.
During their time in Boston, the ministers will attend the 2023 BIO International Convention, including the dedicated Dutch pavilion, and participate in various panel discussions and roundtables. They will also visit essential companies and research institutions in the Greater Boston area that play a pivotal role in the successful life sciences ecosystem of Massachusetts. Alongside Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts, they will host a special ‘Future of Life Sciences’ event, bringing together Dutch participants of the trade mission and representatives from the US life sciences ecosystem.
In addition to their activities in Boston, the Dutch ministers will travel to Washington D.C. for meetings with their US counterparts at the departments of Commerce and Health, as well as the National Economic Council. Minister Adriaansens will discuss transatlantic economic relations, economic resilience and security, emerging technologies (including clean tech), innovation, and critical raw materials. Meanwhile, Minister Kuipers will focus on discussions related to healthcare, research, and the medical supply chain.
The Life Sciences & Health sector in the Netherlands comprises approximately 3,000 research and development companies, with an economic impact of around €7 billion. The relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to the Netherlands in 2019 has further boosted the Dutch LSH sector, and it continues to benefit from the twenty-billion-euro National Growth Fund, which provides funding for projects such as RegMedXB, Health-RI, Biotech Booster, Pharma NL, and Oncode-PACT.
The Greater Boston area holds the title of the world’s capital of the life sciences industry, boasting over 1,000 biotechnology companies ranging from startups to billion-dollar pharmaceutical firms. The region’s extensive network of scientists and top-tier universities provides an excellent talent pipeline, further cementing its position as a global leader in the field.
The upcoming trade mission is poised to foster collaboration, drive investment, and propel advancements in the Life Sciences & Health sector, benefitting both the Netherlands and the United States.