Throughout the workshops established entrepreneurs shared their knowledge and experiences on the different development stages of biotech companies. Erik van den Berg (AM-Pharma) gave strategic and practical tips on how to secure funding. From experience Van den Berg said: “Finding financing  requires perseverance. The only thing you should know in advance is that it will take longer and it will be more difficult than you think it will.”

Rein Strijker (Vitalnext) showed how to address venture capitalists. In a parallel session Markwin Velders (Kite Pharma) enlightened ‘the perfect deal’, where he elaborated on the acquisition of T-Cell Factory by Kite Pharma. Finally, Edward Kliphuis (MS Ventures) explained the procedure of MS Corporate Ventures.

In the afternoon plenary programme the winner of the Biobusiness Masterclass was awarded. Giel Hendriks, managing director of Toxys accepted the award consisting a ticket for BIO Europe Spring 2016 and a HollandBIO membership.

The award ceremony was followed by two parallel workshops. Wouter Stam (Flowid) explained how to innovate in a conservative market. Stam indicated the potential of tapping into knowledge available at large companies. Next, Wouter de Heij (Top B.V.) showed that the strength of Dutch innovation is in the hands of the SMEs. Parallel Pieter Gaillard (Eyesiu Medicines) explained Eyesiu’s strategy to remain independent of dilutive funding. Gaillard just received an Innovation Credit from the Dutch Government. Roel Schaapsveld (InteRNA) elaborated on how to most effectively spend the investments InteRNA received. 

During the drinks all participants of the Health~Holland Venture Challenge pitched their venture. The winner, Conquest, received a cheque worth € 25,000. The day ended with a lovely sunny barbeque at the terrace of de Broodfabriek.

This year HollandBIO and topstart launched the Life Sciences Funding Database

Finding suitable funding opportunities for life sciences research or biotech companies can be really difficult. The subsidy and fiscal landscape is complex and ever-changing. Therefore, HollandBIO and ttopstart developed the Life Sciences Funding Database, aiming to show entrepreneurs and academia the ropes in identifying funding opportunities. 

The database is easy-to-use: just enter a selection of keywords and an up-to-date overview of funding opportunities will be presented. Subsidies, grants, attractive fiscal arrangements: the database includes all relevant national and European funding instruments. Visit www.hollandbio.nl/funding to see which opportunities are waiting.

Top Sector LSH recommends this Funding Database tool to anyone looking for suitable financial arrangements. Informing the Dutch Life Sciences & Health sector on funding is one of the tasks of the Top Sector. Therefore a clear and sorted information database contributes to the sector.  

Link: https://www.hollandbio.nl/funding

This year’s BIO International Convention, where the global biotech community meets, connecting the people, companies and innovations that help to fulfill the promise of biotechnology through healing, fueling, and feeding the world drew 15,858 biotech professionals from 69 countries and 47 states. This year’s Convention hosted 29,279 partnering meetings, a new record for the event.

For the Dutch delegation, the 2015 edition of the world’s largest biotechnology event started Monday afternoon with an informal welcome reception hosted by Health~Holland.

Bernard Muller, founder of Treeway, was elected “Everyday Superhero Biotech 2015”. Bernard is a true multi-talent. He is an entrepreneur, patient, advocate, fundraiser, researcher and drug developer all in one. He uses his skills, expertise, experience and network to connect and build global bridges between people living with ALS and to help develop a cure for ALS. Bernard is a true inspiration and we feel he more than earned the Superhero recognition.

At the immense exhibition (150,000 square feet and 1,800 exhibitors!), the Health~Holland Pavilion convincingly presented our country as the world’s most concentrated life science cluster by showcasing the Dutch strengths. In addition, the pavilion was frequented by the 120 members of the Dutch delegation, who were able to catch their breaths at the pavilion between partnering appointments. Just as previous years, the Dutch bike was one of the exhibition’s most desirable give-aways: the Health~Holland Pavilion nearly bursted with visitors during the raffle at the Wednesday Evening Hospitality Drinks.

The Netherlands actively contributed to BIO’s educational program. On behalf of Health~Holland, Hans Schikan convinced the audience during the ‘Global Innovation Hub’ session to invest in the Dutch life sciences sector. In addition, several Dutch entrepreneurs were to be seen on the BIO stage: André Hoekema from Galapagos, Crucell’s Hanneke Schuitemaker (J&J), Amphera’s Rob Meijer and Joost van Bree from Immunovo.

In conclusion, BIO International Convention was a great success. New contacts were initiated, contracts were signed and investors and companies were seduced to do business in the Netherlands. BIO boosted the cohesion within the Dutch network, too. And last but not least, BIO gave insight and inspiration. BIO celebrates the progress made through biology in healing, fueling and feeding the world. And that’s something we should be proud of.