Minister Beljaarts outlines ambition for Netherlands to lead in global biotechnology by 2040

The Netherlands has set out its ambition to join the global vanguard of biotechnology innovation and application by 2040, as the Dutch cabinet approved a new national vision for the sector. The strategy, developed by Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Beljaarts and State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Chris Jansen, aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of biotechnology across health, food production and the circular economy.

“Biotechnology contributes to addressing many societal challenges, from healthcare to sustainable industry,” said Beljaarts. “It is necessary that we in the Netherlands and Europe bring innovations in this field to market faster. This will make us less dependent on other countries and help us remain globally competitive.”

The cabinet’s vision underscores a clear goal: to ensure that the Netherlands is among the global leaders in biotechnology by 2040. To reach this objective, the government plans to remove regulatory barriers at the national level and to expand the use of experimental regulatory environments, or ‘proeftuinen,’ where innovation can be tested under more flexible conditions.

The Netherlands already has a strong scientific foundation in biotechnology, with a long history of academic and industrial research in the field. The government believes it can build on this legacy by mobilizing additional resources and reducing bureaucratic obstacles that slow innovation. As part of the effort, nearly €1.3 billion (approximately US$1.4 billion) will be invested through projects supported by the National Growth Fund over the coming years.

The cabinet believes that more strategic use of existing instruments, as well as an evaluation of where existing laws and regulations can be interpreted more flexibly, could already strengthen the country’s biotechnology position in the near term. In the longer term, new financial incentives are also being considered to ensure the Netherlands can compete internationally.

The government’s strategy is aligned with ongoing efforts at the European level to improve the bloc’s competitiveness in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. The Netherlands supports the European Commission’s EU Biotech Act and the proposed Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Hub, both of which are designed to strengthen the competitive position of EU member states in this domain.

The cabinet is also calling for harmonized regulatory frameworks across the EU. “We are advocating for the alignment of rules between member states based on the latest scientific insights,” added Jansen. “This will encourage innovation and create a level playing field within Europe.”

The government’s vision highlights a range of biotechnological applications with potential to address urgent challenges. These include making crops more resistant to drought, disease and pests through targeted breeding techniques; developing medicines more rapidly for infectious and rare diseases; and creating biodegradable and circular packaging materials. Industrial biotechnology, which uses biological systems for the production of materials and fuels, is also a key component of the strategy, particularly in efforts to decarbonize manufacturing.

The cabinet’s biotechnology vision has been formally communicated to the House of Representatives in a joint letter co-signed by several ministers and state secretaries, reflecting its cross-ministerial importance. In addition to Beljaarts and Jansen, the letter was endorsed by Minister Fleur Agema and State Secretary Vincent Karremans of Health, Welfare and Sport, Minister Eppo Bruins of Education, Culture and Science, Minister Sophie Hermans for Kingdom Relations and Government Reform, and State Secretary Jean Rummenie of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Quality and Nature.

With the biotechnology landscape becoming increasingly central to global economic and environmental strategy, the Dutch government’s plan places emphasis on competitiveness, regulatory alignment and investment as its core pillars.