Connecting the Dutch and Swiss Biomedical Ecosystems
The Dutch Biomedical Ecosystem
The Netherlands is a recognised global leader in biomedical models, with world-class expertise in stem cell biology, organoid development, and OoC integration. Dutch excellence in stem cell biology and organoid creation provides the biological foundation essential for effective OoC systems. These fields form a priority in the Dutch innovation agenda. Long-term public investment and coordinated national initiatives support this ambition and encourage Dutch partners to look outward and build strong international collaborations. Public-private consortia and National Growth Fund projects, including NXTGEN Hightech, the Institute for human organ and Disease Model Technologies (hDMT), the Ombion Centre for Animal-Free Biomedical Translation (Ombion), and the Bio/Microsystems Centre (B/MSC), form a lively ecosystem for these technologies. This ecosystem makes it easier to move from pioneering research to practical applications that are ready to be explored with international partners.
Dutch organisations contribute actively to international standards and qualification approaches for OoC through initiatives such as the Horizon 2020 project ORCHID, the CEN-CENELEC Organ-on-a-Chip Roadmap, and the NEN Expert Group, as well as ongoing engagement with regulatory bodies. Additionally, Dutch OoC companies are already working directly with regulators to shape future pre-clinical assessment approaches for IND filing. This work supports wider acceptance and integration of OoC in industry and regulation.
Our Triple-Helix approach
The Netherlands has a strong triple-helix ecosystem where government, knowledge institutions, and industry work side by side. In the OoC field, this means technology development, standardisation, and future implementation are aligned toward practical use and international collaboration. In line with this approach, the SMM is carried out by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Switzerland, and Health~Holland, together with partners from the Dutch life sciences and health sector.
At the same time, the global OoC community is still working toward widely shared standards and validation methods. A common framework for the design, use, and validation of OoC systems is still emerging. Companies sometimes face uncertainty when adopting these models. Dutch initiatives with NEN and CEN-CENELEC, plus dialogue with regulators, offer a strong starting point to develop these frameworks together. This benefits both Dutch and Swiss organisations and their international partners.