Foreign Investments

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency(NFIA) has been set up to help and advise foreign companies that wish to take advantage of the Dutch business environment as their gateway Europe. The NFIA is a subdivision of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. The NFIA provides information and practical assistance free of charge on basis of confidentiality. more

All of Europe close at hand

Partners in the Polder: a vision on public-private partnerships

To motivate the Dutch government to continue their stimulation of the Dutch life sciences, the Health, Chemicals and Food & Agro sectors have joined forces in writing a vision on public-private partnerships in the life sciences. In the book "Partners in the Polder" you will find, next to a vision, the best practices and lessons learned from the Dutch experience in public-private partnerships.

• Download here "Partners in the Polder"
• Read more about key recommendations

Why Choose The Netherlands

The relatively small size of the Netherlands forced the Dutch to be outward looking and open minded. As a small nation, it had to be smart and innovative in order to claim its corner. The pragmatic and entrepreneurial spirit of the Dutch made them become one of the big sea-faring nations and their innovative thinking turned the hostile sea into fertile land. more

Cooperation is in our genes

Red, green and white life sciences

Life sciences help address the main socio-economic challenges facing the world:

• Delivering health to an ageing population with an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases
• Feeding the world and its growing population
• Securing resources for generating energy, chemicals and materials needs
• Sustaining the environment.

This website focuses on the first topic: 'delivering health', and how the biomedical sciences can contribute to this.

For the agro/food sector please visit Top Institute Food & Nutrition and TI Green Genetics. For the chemical/energy sector please visit BeBasic.

Science Parks and Regional Initiatives

Several regional initiatives let knowledge institutes, companies and universities profit from their geographical proximity. They cater to specific needs, like housing of start-ups in science parks tailored to new companies. The initiatives build a network of professionals that stimulates research, development and production of goods and services. more

Integrated Life Sciences

The Netherlands is home of first-rate academic research organizations, hundreds of small and medium sized life science companies and an array of multinational biotech and pharma corporations.

So much diversity within a 120-mile radius offers magnificent opportunities for knowledge creation and innovative product development. The Netherlands is leading a trend towards public-private collaborations and is open to partners worldwide.

Hundreds of companies and organizations

This website offers instant access to all the Dutch life sciences sector has to offer. An interactive company database provides leads to hundreds of companies and research organizations working in health, agro-food and industrial biotechnologies or in medical technology. more

Science shapes our minds

Govermental Support

Finding support

The various initiatives in the Life Sciences & Health program are supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science.   more