Date: May 29, 2026
Time: 9.00 – 13.00, including lunch
Venue: Kadans Science, Partner Plus Ultra Leiden, Emmy Noetherweg 2, 2333 BK Leiden
We are together with Swedish Chamber Member IvCB, Hollandbio and the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), and other international Chambers of Commerce, formally inviting you on the 29th of May 2026 for a sector event on the role of Biotech & Life Sciences innovation in strengthening the strategic and economic resilience of the Netherlands.
Amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, this event will bring together politicians, policymakers, industry leaders, and knowledge institutions to explore how European best practices in Biotech & Life Sciences can be translated into concrete action to strengthen the Netherlands’ strategic autonomy, innovation capacity and long-term prosperity.
Program:
08:45 – 09:15 Walk-in & registration
09:15 – 09:40 Opening by moderator Ida Haisma (Associate IvCB & Supervisory Board Member of organisations in health care), Esther Peters (Director, Leiden Bio Science Park) and Rob van Overbeek (Commercial Development Manager, Kadans)
09:40 – 09:55 Keynote by Erwin Nijsse (DG, Ministry of Economic Affairs – invited)
09:55 – 10:30 Panel 1: ‘Strategic autonomy’ in Biotech & Life Sciences – What does it mean? Tom van der Lee (Progressief Nederland), Jurgen Kwik (CEO, Bilthoven Biologicals), Antoine Mialhe (EMEA Head LSH, FTI Consulting), Marcela Silvino (GM North Europe, Sanofi)
10:30 – 10:55 Coffee break
10:55 – 11:10 Keynote by Hans Schikan (former Top Team Member, Top Sector LSH)
11:10 – 11:45 Panel 2: Accelerating innovation through co aboration Marc Vervuurt (D66), Nettie Buitelaar (Director, Biotech Booster), Esther Peters (Director, Leiden Bio Science Park), Björn Ursing (Project Manager LSH, Dutch Embassy in Stockholm), Martijn Bax (Country President NL, AstraZeneca)
11:45 – 12:00 Keynote by Annemiek Verkamman (Managing Director, hollandbio)
12:00 – 12:35 Panel 3: Investment, market access and long-term prosperity Laurens Dassen (Volt), Ishaan Tewarie (Vice President, EQT Life Sciences), Annemiek Verkamman (Managing Director, hollandbio), Xander Koolman (Chair Health & Professor, VU), Sanne Groenemeijer (General Manager NL, Novo Nordisk)
12:35 Lunch
The event will bring together Members of Parliament, senior policymakers, representatives of leading life sciences companies, academic institutions and healthcare innovation leaders. Together,
these stakeholders reflect the full spectrum of public and private actors shaping the future of Biotech & Life Sciences innovation.
PLEASE NOTE, registration through this link only: Pharma Innovation in Biotech & Life Sciences – Upcoming events
Kadans Science, Partner Plus Ultra Leiden, Emmy Noetherweg 2, 2333 BK Leiden
Non Members (Guest)
