Amsterdam-based Biotech Booster, a national programme to support the commercialisation of biotechnology findings, has received €196.4M in the second tranche of funding from the National Growth Fund.
Biotech Booster programme provides financial support, mentoring, and networking to help scientists and entrepreneurs develop proposals for investment or market entry. It aims to increase the societal use of biotechnology.
The programme coordinates collaborations between public and private partners and structures its activities through five thematic clusters. These focus on Industrial Biotechnology & Production, AgroFood Biotechnology, and Human Health, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics.
Government approves second tranche
The second tranche comes from the overall €246M in funding set aside by the National Growth Fund in 2022. The cabinet approved the decision on July 3. This allocation makes the earlier conditional financing final and ensures the continuation of the programme will continue until 2032.
This decision follows a favourable review of the programme’s first phase, during which Biotech Booster showed how it supports biotech researchers and entrepreneurs in accelerating the path of biotechnological innovations to the market, using financial support, mentorship, and access to networks.
The programme backs a broad range of biotech initiatives, from creating new medicines to purifying water with mushroom fungi and improving agriculture through biodegradable seed coatings, helping move them toward market introduction.
In a statement translated from Dutch, Nettie Buitelaar, CEO of Biotech Booster, says, “We are extremely proud and happy with the award of this second tranche. This is not only a recognition of the hard work of all stakeholders and partners from the Dutch biotech sector, but also an important signal that the government endorses the strategic value of biotechnology for the Netherlands.”
“This boost enables us to strengthen the international position of our sector, together with our partners such as Oncode Accelerator, RegMed XB, NXTGEN Hightech, Hollandbio, DSM Firmenich and J&J. Investments such as these are essential to bring innovations to society faster, create new business and develop solutions for major challenges in the areas of health, food supply and sustainability.”
“We look forward to further developing the program in the coming years and supporting many more researchers and entrepreneurs in marketing their innovations,” adds Buitelaar.
Capital utilisation
The Biotech Booster programme was proposed in 2021 by a coalition of Dutch knowledge institutions, Hollandbio, DSM Firmenich, and J&J, in response to the need for structural improvement in the valorisation of biotechnological knowledge in the Netherlands.
Although the Netherlands leads internationally in biotechnology publications and patents, the conversion of this knowledge into business activities and market applications remains limited.
Minister Bruins, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, says, “Better care, a healthier living environment or smart innovations for a better climate. We have seen before that Biotech Booster really works. Biotechnological inventions can really improve daily life. Moreover, this type of research strengthens our science and economy. It cuts both ways. That is why I think it is really good that we can go full steam ahead with this money from the Growth Fund.”
With the confirmed funding, Biotech Booster will expand its efforts. The programme helps biotech researchers and entrepreneurs develop business plans and navigate the gap between discovery and application, known as the ‘valley of death’. This is achieved through mentorship, financial resources, and collaboration among knowledge institutions, companies, and industry partners.
The initiative connects industry and academia early in the process to support the transition of scientific knowledge to practical use. So far, 71 projects have joined the programme, 54 in 2024 and 17 in 2025. Preparation is underway for the 2026 round, which will welcome a new group of researchers.
01
From telecom veteran to Dutch Startup Visa success: The Jignesh Dave story