Connecting the Dutch and Swiss Biomedical Ecosystems
Unlocking the potential of Organ-on-a-Chip technology
In the Netherlands Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) is seen as a promising new technology, since it can transform drug development by replicating the key functions of human organs on a microfluidic chip. This animal-free technology has the potential to transform the Life Sciences & Health sector. It is expected that it will contribute to sustainable and structural economic growth, improved drug development and most importantly, improved quality of life. This aligns with the broader ambition to strengthen the Dutch Life Sciences & Health ecosystem and improve patients’ quality of life.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Health Holland, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Dutch Embassy in Switzerland, and the life sciences & health sector have joined forces to strengthen cooperation between the Netherlands and Switzerland and to position both countries as global leaders in the field of Organ-on-a-Chip. They do this trough the This Strategic Multi-Year Market (SMM) approach between the Netherlands and Switzerland, which aims to accelerate the implementation and international adoption of Organ-on-a-Chip technology. By connecting research institutions, innovative companies, societal organisations, and government bodies in both countries, the programme facilitates collaboration between Dutch innovators and Swiss companies and end users. This supports the translation of advanced Organ-on-a-Chip models into applications within biomedical research and drug development. Through this partnership, Dutch and Swiss stakeholders are advancing human-predictive, human-centric approaches to health and healthcare and jointly exploring new ways to address shared global healthcare challenges.