technology focus

WestHolland, a hub for Industrial Biotech

West Holland, a hub for Industrial Biotech Collaboration

The Netherlands and especially West Holland is becoming a hub for Industrial Biotech collaboration due to the research taking place at Delft University of Technology, BE-Basic, Kluyver Center and DSM in fermentation and bio-based technologies. This position will be further bolstered by the upcoming BE-Basic bioprocess pilot facility and the continued development of Science Port Holland, a top innovative science park.  

In order to promote and strengthen the Industrial biotech sector, the WFIA recently joined forces with the above organizations to profile the Netherlands and West Holland under the banner of “Industrial Biotechnology Netherlands” at the World Congress of Industrial Biotechnology and Processing in Washington DC. Numerous companies/organizations from the Netherlands participated in the Congress. The World Congress is the world‘s largest industrial biotechnology event for business leaders, investors and policy makers in biofuels, biobased products, and renewable chemicals. The event brings together more than 1,400 high-profile scientists, executives, government officials and investors for an exchange of ideas in Washington, D.C.

All efforts were made to put The Netherlands in the spotlight. The presentation by Luuk van der Wielen, Director of BE-Basic and the movie on Industrial Biotech in the Netherlands was very well received during the plenary lunch at the show and the networking dinner organized by The WFIA, the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency and the Netherlands Office of Science and Technology in Washington DC, successfully brought International representatives from Government, Industry and Academia together to discuss potential cooperation.  The Netherlands and West Holland were well profiled as a good investment location and a key hotspot for collaboration on innovative technologies in the industrial biotech sector.