Biotech Booster: €196.4M Fund to Accelerate Dutch Innovation

A new €196.4 million investment fund aims to boost biotechnology commercialization in the Netherlands. Known as the Biotech Booster initiative, the program focuses on turning scientific research into practical, market-ready solutions.

Biotech Booster’s central goal is to address the “valley of death” in technology transfer—a phase where many promising ideas fail due to a lack of business structure or funding. Instead of backing existing companies, Biotech Booster channels resources directly to scientists, research institutions, and university innovation teams to support early-stage, high-potential proposals.

Beyond providing capital, Biotech Booster offers strategic guidance

The initiative connects scientific innovation with real industry needs, helping projects move from lab research to clinical trials and business model validation. This approach is designed to bridge the gap between academic discovery and market adoption.

The Biotech Booster program is primarily financed by the National Growth Fund, a Dutch government initiative supporting sectors with long-term economic impact. Key partners include the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Foundation for Scientific Research (NWO), the technology organization TNO, and Health~Holland.

Biotech Booster will operate for an initial period of eight years, with the first open calls for proposals launching in the fall. It aims to support at least 100 biotechnology projects, particularly those with applications in human health, industrial innovation, and agri-food sectors.

“This investment will allow us to turn academic ideas into products that impact people’s lives,” said Nettie Buitelaar, CEO of Biotech Booster.

Through the Biotech Booster initiative, the Netherlands hopes to harness its strong innovation system and position itself as a leader in applied biotechnology. The country’s strategy aligns with broader European efforts to strengthen the scientific and technological ecosystem, making biotechnology a cornerstone of economic growth and healthcare independence across the continent.

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(Featured image by Marek Studzinski via Unsplash)

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First published in The Officer. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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