The Dutch government has approved the second tranche of the National Growth Fund grant for Biotech Booster. This decision finalizes the funding, ensuring the program continues until 2032. The total grant amounts to €246 million through 2022.
This award follows a successful first phase, where the program demonstrated its ability to help biotech researchers and entrepreneurs bring innovations to market faster through funding, mentorship, and networking. The program supports diverse projects, from developing new drugs to water purification using mushroom fungi and creating biodegradable seed coatings for sustainable agriculture.
CEO Nettie Buitelaar expressed her excitement, saying, “We are extremely proud and pleased with this final award. It recognizes the dedication of all our partners and stakeholders in Dutch biotech. It also signals strong government support for the strategic importance of biotechnology for the Netherlands.”
Buitelaar highlighted that investments like these are crucial for fast-tracking innovations into society, creating new businesses, and addressing major health, food, and sustainability challenges. She looks forward to further developing the program and supporting more researchers and entrepreneurs in commercializing their innovations.
With the final funding secured, Biotech Booster can now expand its activities further. The program helps biotech researchers and entrepreneurs develop business plans and navigate the “valley of death,” the critical phase from promising discovery to real-world application. It does so through mentorship, financial support, and a national ecosystem where knowledge institutions, companies, and industry partners collaborate early on. This collaborative approach ensures scientific knowledge is quickly translated into societal benefits.
So far, 71 projects have been admitted into the program. In 2024, 54 projects participated, and 17 more joined in 2025. The program is now preparing for the 2026 round.
