Biotech Booster, the valorisation programme supported by the National Growth Fund, is receiving a boost of €196,4 million to accelerate groundbreaking biotechnologies from lab to market. Within this fund, the transition to sustainable bio-raw materials and biomass plays a recognisable role, in addition to applications in the field of health, nutrition and the environment.
Biotech Booster stimulates starting biotech entrepreneurs with financial support, mentorship and access to a broad network. The program is divided into five thematic clusters, ranging from industrial biotechnology and food to diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. Since the start in 2024, more than fifty projects have been selected. Each project receives 200.000 euros in the first phase to prove the concept, with the prospect of follow-up funding if the results are positive.
Within the industrial biotech and food clusters, several projects have been launched that focus on biomass or plant-based raw materials. For example, a team from Wageningen University is developing a bioreactor for cultured meat, which promises a tenfold increase in production capacity with half the CO2 emissions. Elsewhere, a spin-off from TU Delft is working on a biodegradable coating for seeds, which can replace plastic casings in agriculture. Both initiatives make use of natural waste streams and plant-based materials.
Applications are also visible in water and environmental technology. Researchers at Radboud University are working on a new ammonium sensor that makes wastewater purification more efficient. This makes the nitrogen cycle more manageable, a theme that is directly related to the use of biomass in circular processes.
The power of Biotech Booster lies in the collaboration between universities, young companies and experienced entrepreneurs. The program creates a learning ecosystem in which technology matures faster and opportunities for market introduction increase. Start-ups not only receive money, but also access to mentors and partners from the field. This allows innovations that often remain stuck in academia to develop more quickly into applications with social impact.
The investment of almost 200 million euros on July 4 comes from the National Growth Fund, which selected six new projects that day. Biotech Booster is one of the largest recipients. The duration of the program has been set until 2031 and must contribute to a strong biotech sector that puts the Netherlands on the map internationally.
The combination of biotechnology with sustainable raw materials shows how science and market can work together towards a circular future. Whether it concerns food production, clean water or biodegradable materials: with Biotech Booster that future comes tangibly closer.
More information about the National Growth Fund: nationalgrowthfund.nl
