Following the success of DIY Day 2025 at Unmanned Valley, the event is set to have a special follow-up. On November 5, 6, and 7, 2026, Unmanned Valley and the Leiden, Duin- en Bollenstreek Foundation for Technical Education will jointly organize the very first Tech Discovery Days: a three-day event centered on technology, innovation, and discovery.

Versatile Technology

During the Tech Discovery Days, young people and families are introduced to the world of engineering and technology in an interactive way. Visitors can fly drones themselves, control robots, program, build with LEGO, launch a rocket, and experience how drones are used professionally in a UAV simulator. There are also interactive workshops and demonstrations. In short: everyone can discover just how fun and versatile engineering can be.

School Days and Public Day

There will be two special school days on November 5 and 6. Saturday, November 7, is a public open house. We expect about 500 children, teens, parents, and other interested visitors to come to this unique innovation hub at the former Valkenburg Naval Air Station. Come check it out!

Schedule and Tickets

Discover, build, program, and experiment!

• Thursday, November 5, elementary school (grades 7 and 8). Free admission for schools (registration through STO).
• Friday, November 6, secondary school (2nd grade MAVO). Free admission for schools (registration through STO).
• Saturday, November 7: Open house for families, creators, and anyone else interested. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., visitors of all ages can explore the latest technology and, most importantly, try it out for themselves. A regular ticket costs €15. For families, there’s a family ticket for €50, valid for up to five people. Admission via tickets.

Location: Unmanned Valley Valkenburg (ZH). Naval Air Base 356, 2236 ZZ Valkenburg (ZH). For navigation: 1e Mientlaan, 2223 LA Katwijk

• Do you have questions about the education days (November 5 and 6)? Please contact Fatma Afiyon at 06–11867452 or info@sto-ldb.nl
• Questions about the open house? Send an email to info@unmannedvalley.nl

How does an idea evolve into a technology with the potential to transform an entire industry? In the Key Region Leiden, we’re seeing this happen more and more often. Startups start small, find their way, fall and get back up, and in the process, build solutions with a global impact.

We spoke with Yordi Beelen, co-founder of Aefir Labs, about this. He talks about his entrepreneurial journey, the path from startup to scale-up, and the role of the ecosystem in that development.

In a nutshell

• Aefir Labs is working on one of the biggest challenges in the energy transition: making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) affordable.
• Drawing on his background in chemical engineering and his experience at Delft University of Technology, Yordi combines his subject matter expertise with entrepreneurship at PLNT Leiden, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
• Through Aefir Labs (formerly Nera Energy), he uses artificial intelligence to make chemical processes smarter and more efficient. His goal is to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuel and make it more affordable. In doing so, he is contributing to cleaner aviation on a global scale!

It starts with the question: What problem am I solving?

For Yordi, it didn’t start with a well-defined business plan, but with a fundamental problem: how do you make sustainable jet fuel affordable? “The technology already exists,” he says. “It’s just that right now it’s six to eight times as expensive as fossil kerosene. That’s when you realize: there’s something here that simply has to be solved.” Yet, he says, those early days felt anything but like a business venture. “You don’t have all the answers at the start. In fact, you mostly have a lot of questions. That’s exactly what makes entrepreneurship interesting: you’re constantly discovering new things.” That initial phase requires courage, but also the ability to put things in perspective. “Many people see entrepreneurship as a huge risk. But at this stage, it wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. I didn’t have a house or a family, and I could pay my rent. That’s exactly the right time to give it a try.”

The first reality: Not everything that feels good actually works

As is often the case with startups, the initial idea turned out not to be the right one. “At first, we wanted to build compact plants that would allow airports to produce their own fuel,” says Yordi. “That idea had it all: impact, scale, autonomy.” But then reality set in. “We ran the numbers all the way through. And it turned out: this just isn’t feasible. The fuel produced by these plants would be unaffordable.”

That moment—when an idea you believe in turns out to be unfeasible—is, according to him, one of the toughest phases of entrepreneurship. “You become attached to a plan like that. So letting go isn’t just a rational decision—it’s an emotional one, too. We had some really intense discussions about that within the team.” Yet that’s also where the essence of growth lies. “Ultimately, you have to be honest. What is the real problem you’re solving? For us, it turned out not to be building factories, but improving the chemistry behind them.”

What is often underestimated is just how unpredictable the path of a startup is. “From the outside, it sometimes seems as if companies are following a clear plan,” says Yordi. “But in practice, you’re constantly making adjustments.”

Finding Focus: From Idea to Direction

After this realization, the focus shifted completely. “We started focusing on catalysts—the materials that enable chemical reactions. If you make them more efficient, it has an impact on the entire chain.” What makes their approach unique is the combination with AI. “We test many things at once and use AI to predict what will work. But here’s what sets us apart: we also make use of all the experiments that don’t work. In science, everyone only publishes their successes. But if you want to accelerate progress, you also have to dare to learn from everything that fails.” He sees this principle—extracting value from what initially seems useless—reflected more broadly in entrepreneurship. “You fail constantly. But ultimately, those are the moments that move you forward.”

Entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line

What is often underestimated is just how unpredictable a startup’s journey is. “From the outside, it sometimes seems as though companies are following a clear plan,” says Yordi. “But in practice, you’re constantly making adjustments.” That dynamic requires a specific mindset. “On the one hand, you have to believe in something, but at the same time, you have to remain flexible. That can sometimes create tension. When do you hold on, and when do you let go?” According to him, it helps to always go back to the core: “What is the problem you’re solving? As long as you keep that in focus, you can adjust your strategy without losing your direction.”

What Helps Keep the Construction Going

Yordi sees several key factors driving Aefir Labs’ growth. “First and foremost: focus. You can’t do everything at once. Especially in the beginning, you have to make choices—and have the courage to stick with them.” A smart growth strategy also plays a role. “We’re pursuing a two-pronged approach: on the one hand, we provide consulting services to generate revenue and build a network. On the other hand, we invest in our own technology and IP.” This approach creates a balance. “It gives you breathing room. You don’t have to rely on major investors right away, but you can still build something that has the potential to become big in the long run.”

Energy and Motivation: Why You Do It

What drives him personally isn’t just the technology. “For me, it’s also about impact. You’re working on something that can really make a difference. That gives you energy.” That motivation is necessary, because the road ahead is long and uncertain. “There are plenty of moments when things don’t go your way. That’s when it helps to know why you’re doing it.” He emphasizes that passion doesn’t mean everything is easy. “The work we do is meaningful. And that’s what keeps you going, even when you don’t yet know where the ship will end up.”

The Next Step: From Startup to Scale-Up

According to him, the biggest challenge still lies ahead. “Having an idea is one thing. But scaling it up—that’s a whole different phase.” This is particularly complex in the chemical industry. “You’re dealing with high investments, regulations, and major industrial partners. Even a small pilot project can easily cost millions.” What does it take to make that leap? “Capital, of course, but also partners who are willing to go along with it. And timing—you have to be ready at the right moment. You build trust—first with small projects, then larger ones—until you reach a point where you can really make an impact.”

The Ecosystem: Why the Environment Matters

An important part of their journey takes place in the Key Region Leiden. “Our office is located at PLNT,” says Yordi. “That’s not necessarily because we’re in that sector, but because it’s a place where you meet other entrepreneurs.” That environment has proven to be valuable. “You run into people there who are working on the same things: financing, IP, growth. That helps enormously.” At the same time, their technical work is based in Delft. “That’s where we have the facilities we need. The great thing is that this combination actually works.” According to him, that’s typical of the region. “The region isn’t an isolated place, but a network. Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam. Everything is interconnected.”

Crossovers: Innovation Lies at the Intersection of Sectors

He sees the future of innovation emerging primarily at the boundaries between disciplines. “We’re at the intersection of chemistry and AI. That makes it interesting, but also challenging.” That combination calls for a new kind of talent. “You need people who understand multiple fields. That’s not easy to find.” That’s precisely where he sees opportunities in the Key Region Leiden. “With the universities and the Bio Science Park, there’s a tremendous amount of knowledge here. The challenge is to connect them more effectively.” In his view, that holds the key to the future. “The greatest innovations don’t arise within a single sector, but between them.”

Talent: Building a Team

One of the biggest bottlenecks in their growth is finding the right people. “You’re not looking for run-of-the-mill candidates. You’re looking for people who are curious and willing to look beyond their own field.” He sees the team as the foundation for everything to come. “You can develop technology, but a good team is what makes the difference.” The region plays a role here as well. “The talent is there. But you have to know how to find it and bring it together.”

Looking Ahead: From Idea to Construction

When he looks ahead, Yordi thinks not only in terms of growth, but also in terms of impact. “Within a few years, we want to help companies make their processes more sustainable. That’s a concrete step.” But behind that lies a greater ambition. “Secretly, I think it would be amazing to build our own factory someday. That’s truly a moonshot. Going from a calculation to something physical that’s actually up and running—that sounds fantastic to me.”

From Sparks to Impact

What this story shows is how something small can grow into something big. An idea that doesn’t work leads to a new insight. An experiment that fails accelerates the next step. An encounter within an ecosystem opens a new door. “You start small,” says Yordi. “But if you take the right steps with plenty of motivation, knowledge, and insights, it can grow quickly.”

This is the second interview in the “From Sparks to Impact” series, which features innovative entrepreneurs from the Key Region Leiden. The interviews are produced in collaboration with PLNT Leiden. Be sure to also read the interview with QuantaMap.

QuantaMap bestudeert het mechanisme achter falende quantumchips

Research, education, and innovation are thriving in our region. Yet these sectors do not always naturally find common ground. To change that, Key Region Leiden and Heineken organized their first joint workshop. The goal: to explore, based on concrete questions from real-world practice, how government, education, and entrepreneurs can better support one another.

The meeting focused on three main themes: unmanned systems, education and the skilled workforce of the future, and a joint research agenda. In various working sessions, participants identified existing initiatives, shared ambitions, and new opportunities for collaboration.

Technology only gains value when put into practice

The region has a wealth of expertise in areas such as digital twins, robotics, and autonomous systems. The challenge lies not so much in the technology itself, but in how companies can gain faster access to testing environments, expertise, and collaboration partners. The next step has already been taken: Heineken and Unmanned Valley are jointly exploring opportunities for further collaboration.

Lifelong learning as the key to the job market

The labor market was also discussed at length. The participants agreed that the solution to labor shortages goes beyond simply increasing the number of new hires. Organizations must evolve into places where employees can continue to develop their skills. In the coming period, mboRijnland and Heineken will further explore how educational programs and real-world needs can be better aligned and how to increase the number of people entering technical and innovative professions.

Working Together on Regional Challenges

The session also underscored the importance of a joint regional research agenda. By focusing on societal issues (such as health and overall well-being), businesses, educational institutions, and the government can better pool their knowledge and achieve an impact more quickly.

That is why Key Region Leiden will soon be organizing a follow-up meeting with, among others, Leiden University, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, mboRijnland, and regional companies. The goal: to jointly select a specific issue and get started on it right away.

The meeting at Heineken showed that the region has all the ingredients for a strong innovation ecosystem. With the next steps, we’ll turn this into concrete results. Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.

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QuantaMap develops measurement instruments that allow quantum chip manufacturers to see what goes wrong in quantum chips at the nanoscale. This is essential to move quantum technology from the lab into industrial applications. We meet Johannes Jobst, CEO and founder of QuantaMap, at the House of Quantum in Leiden.

Why did you choose to start your company in this region?

“It wasn’t a strategic choice, but a logical one,” says Jobst. “We are a spin-off from Leiden University. The technology was developed here, so starting here made sense.” It has proven to be an excellent decision, as the BioPartner and HoQ quantum incubator provides the company with well-equipped, scalable workspaces and we have access to the nanofabrication cleanroom and engineering workshop at Leiden University. The location is also central and well connected within the region. “What makes this region unique is how compact everything is. Delft is just twenty minutes away, and many relevant stakeholders for us are based there. From my German perspective, that’s essentially one city.” This proximity enables fast collaboration and fosters an open culture. “You can easily reach out to people, which is essential when you want to innovate and scale quickly. Everyone is very open and eager to collaborate.”

What exactly do you do?

“Think of the classical semiconductor industry. During production, you continuously monitor what is happening. Without those checks, only about 40% of the chips would work. For quantum chips, those monitoring tools don’t yet exist.” The consequences are significant: “Sometimes only 10 to 20% of the chips function, even though they cost millions.” QuantaMap aims to change that. “We measure chip performance below 1 Kelvin. That’s –272 degrees Celsius, nearly absolute zero. We can see not only what a chip looks like but also how it behaves.” He proudly shows an image: “You can literally see electrical currents bending around defects. Our technology makes defects in quantum chips visible. That’s entirely new and urgently needed.”

Did you know?

• Quantum chips are tested at temperatures of around –272°C, some of the coldest conditions possible in the universe, just above absolute zero. It’s at these extreme temperatures that quantum effects become visible.
• This extreme cold also has a connection to Leiden: in 1908, physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes reached temperatures as low as –269°C there, laying the foundation for discoveries such as superconductivity. Leiden thus remains closely linked to some of the coldest experiments in the world.

What challenges did you face early on?

“Funding is always a factor, but technology even more so. Hardware can’t be rushed. A cryostat (a refrigerator capable of cooling down to 1 Kelvin) simply has a lead time of about six months. More money doesn’t change that.” There were also organizational challenges. “We had to make agreements on intellectual property (IP) with the university. That took longer than expected, because this type of spin-off is still relatively new here. Fortunately, we overcame that hurdle together with the tech transfer office.”

What does the network bring and what’s missing?

“The network is strong. Everyone helps each other, also in practical ways. For example, we work closely with QuantWare in Delft. We use their chips to better understand where performance is lost. That direct feedback accelerates the improvement of our technology and gives an edge in the global market.”

QuantaMap also collaborates with organizations like TNO in consortia. By combining knowledge and infrastructure, the transition from research to application is accelerated. Jobst also sees opportunities in stronger links with Leiden’s life sciences sector, where he believes there is still significant untapped potential. “Quantum can help simulate molecules and accelerate drug development.”

How do you stay agile as an entrepreneur?

“Through focus and making smart choices. We learned that in the Venture Academy program at PLNT Leiden. It was very valuable.” QuantaMap grew deliberately through subsidies and loans. “That allowed us to maintain control and flexibility. At the same time, you can’t do everything at once. You have to make choices and specialize. We focus on diagnostics. That’s our role, and we aim to excel at it.”

Where do you see opportunities for cross-sector collaboration?

“They’re more abundant than you might think. The technology is also being explored in space and defense. The underlying physics is the same, which makes further development into other applications a natural step. We should connect more often.”

And quantum life sciences in Leiden?

“That’s a huge opportunity. But someone needs to step up and truly build that bridge. That requires applications and integration. The sector is highly specialized – everyone focuses on one piece of the puzzle – but there’s still a missing party that brings everything together or develops real-world applications.”

[Side note: Key Region Leiden has published a white paper on the opportunities of quantum software for life sciences. You can read more here: https://www.keyregionleiden.nl/Projecten/quantumsoftware/]

What does your ideal work environment look like?

“Flexible and scalable. If we need an extra lab tomorrow, it should be possible. But ultimately, it’s about people. A strong team and a positive atmosphere make the difference.”

What advice would you give other entrepreneurs?

“Just start.” According to Jobst, the Netherlands provides a solid foundation: “There is capital, a network, and a willingness to help.” His key advice: “Talk to people who have already done it. It accelerates everything.”

FULL-BOOKED: The maximum number of participants has been reached.

The event is fully booked. It is no longer possible to register. Would you like to stay informed and receive the retrospective? Then sign up for our newsletter below this page or send an email to info@keyregionleiden.nl o.v.v. Business with Defense.

On June 18, VNO-NCW Rijnland, Key Region Leiden and Rabobank are jointly organizing the Defense Summit: Doing Business with Defense – Strong, Smart and Together. Led by chairman of the day Alex de Vries, crisis advisor and former journalist, we will explore the opportunities created by the rapidly changing geopolitical situation and the growth of the defense budget. These developments offer entrepreneurs new opportunities to contribute to security, resilience and economic growth with innovative solutions (dualuse).

Our region has a strong starting position here, where innovative strength meets the growing importance of the defense and security sector. During the meeting we will discuss how entrepreneurs can take advantage of these opportunities and how the cooperation between business, knowledge institutions and government can be further strengthened.

You will gain insight into Defense’s strategic priorities, discover how to apply innovations, and meet relevant network partners from the region.

Program

2:30 p.m.	Walk-in meets the innovation ecosystem
15:00	Opening and welcome by Tino Meijn, chairman VNO-NCW Rijnland Brief explanation about Unmanned Valley by Theo de Vries, director
3:10 p.m.	Hugo Leyte, Head of ODIN (Orchestrating Defense Innovation), MinDef. Christine Foekens, Program Manager National Defense Industry and Innovation Program, MinDef
15.30 uur	Siete Hamminga, CEO Robin Radar
15.50 uur	Rob Postma, CEO Airbus Netherlands
4:10 p.m.	Yorick Cramer, Rabobank industry and defense sector manager
4:30 p.m.	Opportunity for questions
4:40 p.m.	Break
5 p.m.	Break-out sessions
5:45 p.m.	Brief summary of breakout sessions by moderator
6 p.m.	Networking drinks
7 p.m.	End

 

Notes on main program

Guest speakers: Hugo Leyte, Christine Foekens, Siete Hamminga, Rob Postma, Yorick Cramer.

Hugo Leyte, ODIN

Hugo will provide insight into how the Department of Defense is trying to strengthen collaboration with the market, thereby shortening innovation cycles now and in wartime. He himself was in the military for 8 years until an accident forced him to choose a different path. After several successes including setting up PROJAXION, which provides e-commerce solutions, he returned to Defense in 2019. Here he now leads the department that manages a public-private partnership in which at regional and national level Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, ROMs, provinces and industry act together in the dual-use innovation domain.

Christine Foeke

Christine Foekens is program manager of the new National Defense Industry and Innovation Program. She will explain the operation and design of this program. She has worked at the Ministry of Defense for three years at the Policy Directorate of Industry and Innovation. Before that, she worked for the Province of South Holland for 8.5 years as team manager of Knowledge and Innovation Policy.

Siete Hamminga

Siete Hamminga is the CEO and founder of Robin Radar Systems, a technology leader in radars for small, short-range objects such as birds and drones. He received his Master of Science from the University of Twente and completed his studies in Silicon Valley. He then founded several high-tech companies, before corporatizing TNO’s radar technology into the commercial company Robin Radar in 2010.Under his leadership, Robin Radar’s focus shifted from preventing bird collisions at airports such as Schiphol Airport to protecting against drones within defense and security. A winner of several prestigious entrepreneurial awards, he won the Martin Schröder Entrepreneur Award on behalf of the Netherlands Air and Space Fund, Hamminga has grown the company to more than 250 employees and revenues of more than €100 million.Driven by the changing landscape of defense and security, he recently completed the Leadership in National Security (LNV) course. He is the author ofBeyond the Hype, a board member at the NIVD and a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of TNO Industry.

Rob Postma

Rob Postma is Managing Director of Airbus Netherlands BV, the largest aerospace company in the Netherlands. He leads the Leiden-based company with about 265 engineers in Leiden, Oegstgeest and Eindhoven. Airbus Netherlands develops solar panels, launch structures and technology for earth observation and optical communications, among other things, and is also active in sustainable aviation, safety, cybersecurity and helicopters.

Yorick Kramer

Due to geopolitical tensions, the urgency to make Europe more resilient is growing. This leads to a strong increase in defense spending, also in the Netherlands. This creates new opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs in industry. More and more companies are directly or indirectly involved in this development. What does this mean for your company? In my role as Sector Manager Industry & Defense at Rabobank, I share my knowledge and network with both clients and colleagues and share responsibility for Rabobank’s policy towards the defense industry. On behalf of Rabobank, I am active within Defport and the Expert Committee Defense of VNO-NCW. I also fulfil the role of chairman of the NVB Defense Working Group. During the session, I will take participants through my vision of the defense industry and discuss recent developments within Rabobank in this area. Topics covered:

• The strategic direction of Defense and what opportunities this presents for your business;
• How you as a company can benefit from growth in the defense sector;
• How Rabobank supports entrepreneurs working with Defense;
• Practical tips for entrepreneurs looking to start or scale up in this sector.

Break-out sessies

PLEASE NOTE: At the end of May, all participants will receive an email in which you can indicate a preference for one of the following breakout sessions.

• Digital Resilience & Cyber. Speakers: Harm Teunis, Cybersecurity Evangelist, ESET and Jamil Sosa, Lead Security Analyst, ESET
  This session will cover some of the public-private collaborations ESET contributes to, why we think these collaborations are so important, and what it has contributed to digital security in the Netherlands and far beyond. We will zoom in on a number of cases.
  

• Products & Services (dual use): Jos Maccabiani, senior business developer Innovation Quarter
  How do you take dual-use innovations from concept to an initial commercial application at Defense? In this session we will discuss which routes are realistic and how to accelerate as a company towards funding, pilots, orders and sales.

• Employees & The Reservist: Erwin Kwakkel and Martijn van Galen, advisors AReS (Reservist and Society)
  How can entrepreneurs contribute to a resilient Netherlands while investing in strong employees? During this session, AReS speakers Erwin Kwakkel and Martijn van Galen will show what role reservists play within Defense and what this means for employers in practice. We discuss the opportunities, arrangements and cooperation between business and Defense, supported by concrete examples from practice. An inspiring session for entrepreneurs and HR professionals who want to contribute to “strong, smart and together.”

Sign up

The event is fully booked! Would you like to stay informed and receive the retrospective? Then sign up for our newsletter below this page or send an email to info@keyregionleiden.nl o.v.v. Business with Defense.

Creating sensor-based impact

On June 18 we will be guests at Unmanned Valley in Valkenburg, municipality of Katwijk (next to the hangar of the musical Soldaat van Oranje). This is the Netherlands’ largest field lab for drones and autonomous tech on former naval airbase Valkenburg. Here, high-tech applications are literally getting off the ground.

• Unmanned Valley, Marinevliegkampweg 356, 2236 ZZ Katwijk aan Zee

 

Are you an innovative entrepreneur? Then this is your chance! The SME subsidy of the province of South Holland for feasibility studies into innovations will soon reopen. This MIT subsidy (MKB Innovatiestimulering Topsectoren) is intended for medium and small companies to investigate whether new ideas and plans (innovations) are technically and economically feasible. This year’s budget is: €2.7 million!

For what purpose?

With this grant you can investigate whether your innovative idea really works, both technically and financially. Think of a new technology, a smart product or a better service that contributes to challenges such as sustainable energy, health or food safety. The Province of South Holland will contribute up to € 20,000 (or up to 35% of your costs).

Who can apply for it?

Are you an SME entrepreneur with a branch in South Holland? If so, you may be eligible. You can make one application per company per year.

When applying, think of innovations that contribute to:
🔋 𝗞𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁 & 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗲: less CO₂, more renewable energy, energy efficiency.
♻️ 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲: resource conservation, reuse, recycling, life extension.
🌾 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘄, 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 & 𝗩𝗼𝗲𝗱𝘀𝗲𝗹: biodiversity, sustainable cultivation, water management, food security and protein transition.
🏥 𝗚𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱 & 𝗭𝗼𝗿𝗴: prevention, smart tools, home care, labor savings.
🛡️ 𝗩𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱: cyber resilience, maritime innovations, aerospace, high-tech operations.
🔧 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗲𝗻: such as AI, photonics, quantum, mechatronics, semiconductors and biotechnology.

In short: innovations that link technology to social issues.

As of April 7

Do you have ideas and could use a helping hand? Then prepare your application now. You can apply from April 7 at 9 a.m. until September 15, 2026. More information can be found on the website of the Province of South Holland. Also read the assessment framework.

Effective February 1, 2026, Els Frankhuijzen started in the combination position of Program Manager / Strategic Advisor Knowledge and Innovation at the Leiden Bio Science Park and Key Region Leiden. This strengthens both organizations’ clout at the intersection of strategy, program development and collaboration within the regional knowledge and innovation system. Her arrival ensures coherence, pace and realization power.

Knowledge-intensive environments

Her natural science background (Environmental Health and Toxicology, Wageningen University), complemented by an education in Business Administration (Haagse Hogeschool), together with extensive experience in various sectors (including Life Sciences, Engineering, Chemical Industry, and Oil & Gas) forms a strong basis for building and directing complex projects and programs. As a natural connector, she established successful partnerships between companies, knowledge institutions and governments, focused on common goals and innovation.

Efficiency, synergy and continuous innovation run as a thread through her career. In thirty years, she moved smoothly between strategy, tactics and execution. In doing so, she frequently worked in and with knowledge-intensive environments including Leiden Bio Science Park itself.

Momentum for growth and development

Els’ start coincides with an important momentum for the Leiden Bio Science Park and Key Region Leiden. Both are explicitly mentioned in Peter Wennink’s advisory report The Route to Future Prosperity (December 2025). The report emphasizes that the Netherlands must strengthen its future earning power in a number of high-tech fields. Life Sciences & Biotechnology is among the four strategic key areas essential for broad prosperity, international competitiveness and geopolitical relevance.

The Key Region Leiden plays an important role in this, with a strong and internationally recognized ecosystem in terms of knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Powerful ecosystem

“The recognition of the Leiden Bio Science Park and Key Region Leiden in report Wennink underlines the strength of this ecosystem. In this position I can turn this into concrete impact for the innovation campuses, for education and business,” Els says enthusiastically. “Very nice also that I can now contribute to the region where I have lived for thirty years.”

Business development

“With her experience, connecting ability and strategic outlook, I am very pleased that Els is starting with us. She quickly recognizes opportunities in the Leiden Bio Science Park and translates them into concrete plans and programs in the field of knowledge and innovation. By bringing the ecosystem together in a focused way, she stimulates new collaborations from which companies in the park directly benefit. In addition to business development, it is about seizing opportunities in regional and (inter)national networks, so that funding lands in our region,” says Esther Peters (director Leiden Bio Science Park).

Everyone benefits

“There is a lot of work ahead that requires a concrete approach, precisely at the scale of the region. That is why we are looking forward enormously to working with Els. She helps our innovation region move forward by connecting the knowledge-intensive and local economy. In this way, as a triple helix cooperation, we are building a strong, future-proof region from which everyone benefits,” adds Leonie Hussaarts (director Key Region Leiden).

Want to meet or collaborate? Feel free to connect with Els on LinkedIn.

With the report The route to future prosperity former ASML top executive Peter Wennink sounded the alarm about Dutch earning capacity. According to Wennink, it is “two minutes to midnight”: without large-scale investments and better framework conditions, the Netherlands is at risk of losing its economic and technological lead. The report received wide attention in national media and serves as a reference point in the debate about innovation, investment climate and strategic sectors. Leiden, and in particular the Life Sciences and Biotech sector in our region, receives due attention. Important task for the new cabinet. We list it again.

Biotech Nexus

Both Wennink himself and various opinion makers and industry organizations point to Leiden as a core cluster within the national biotech strategy, including through the Biotech Nexus program. This emphatically puts the Leiden ecosystem in the picture as a potential growth engine for the economy, healthcare and innovation and as a region where national ambitions and local preconditions converge.

Investment and preconditions

Biotech and Life Sciences are crucial to the affordability of healthcare and food security, according to Wennink. The investment potential is €37.9 billion. According to top advisor Wennink, a future cabinet should focus on four lines of investment, including life sciences and biotechnology.

The report lists needed investments of 151 to 187 billion, which must come mainly from the private sector. In addition, the government must provide the right framework conditions within five years. Consider:

• simplified rules and faster permits
• sufficient talent,
• affordable and reliable energy
• strong physical infrastructure.

Biotech Nexus as multiplier

Leiden Bio Science Park took a leading role for the entire red biotech sector in the Netherlands with Biotech Nexus. This sector can become a cornerstone of the Dutch economy if its recommendations are adopted. The project proposes a boost to the entire development chain of medical biotech which could provide a GDP boost of 1.2 percentage points with 20,000 new jobs. This should ultimately ensure faster access to innovations for patients. A lot of investment is needed, but this will also pay off. Indeed, the Leiden Bio Science Park states that, on average, each public euro of investment leads to 2.5 euros of private investment and almost 2 euros of additional economic contribution.

Other proposals of the Biotech Nexus plan include a nationwide system of regional command centers, aiming at better coordination and data sharing in the healthcare sector, bio- and process technology for new ingredients, and a new generation of image-guided therapies.

Young companies

Wennink mentioned Biotech Nexus by name during his presentation. In addition, Annemiek Verkamman, managing director of Hollandbio, mentioned that Biotech Nexus drives the growth of young companies. These include:

• Improving access to growth capital,
• strengthening the utilization of scientific knowledge,
• Support of young companies by experienced entrepreneurs and investors.

Demo plants

Wennink’s opinion also emphasizes the role of biotech in the success of the agri-food and biobased sector. Among other things, he argues for:

• investments in scale-up facilities and so-called First Of A Kind (FOAK) demo plants for new ingredients,
• investment in new breeding techniques,
• investeringen in kunstmatige intelligentie en
• the further development and valorization of knowledge.

Capitalizing on opportunities

To further develop the opportunities for our innovation region, Els Frankhuijzen has started in the combination position of Program Manager / Strategic Advisor Knowledge and Innovation at Leiden Bio Science Park and Key Region Leiden. Keep following us to stay informed about her approach.

Read also: Minister Bruijn accepts Biotech Nexus report.

In Key Region Leiden, we work daily on innovations that prove their value in practice. The region is in full swing and forms a powerful breeding ground for solutions that contribute to the future. With three strong knowledge clusters, the Leiden Bio Science Park (biotech), NL Space Campus (space technology & data) and Unmanned Valley (autonomous technology), Key Region Leiden is among the most innovative regions in the Netherlands.

First edition of Pioneers Capital Day

A great example is the first edition of Pioneers Capital Day, which will take place on April 8 at Unmanned Valley. This new event is organized by Unmanned Valley in cooperation with InnovationQuarter, Rabobank and Hogeschool Rotterdam.

Pioneers Capital Day focuses on the fast-growing market for drones, software and autonomous technology. This sector is on the eve of strong growth in the coming years. To realize Dutch ambitions in safety, agritech and logistics, more investment opportunities and a higher level of investor readiness are essential.

The program

The program (April 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) offers, among other things:

• Inspirational speakers from the world of technology and finance;
• Extensive networking opportunities at Unmanned Valley’s unique test site;
• Dragon’s Den-style pitch sessions, with a financial award for the best pitch;
• Speed dating sessions for direct exposure to various forms of financing.

The event is designed for start-ups and scale-ups, industry incumbents and investors.

Key Region Leiden is proud of initiatives such as Pioneers Capital Day, which further strengthen the innovative power of the region. Find more information on Unmanned Valley’ s channels. Interested? Sign up via eventbite.

Want to know more about everything happening at Unmanned Valley? Visit the website or contact us via email.

Our knowledge region offers plenty of opportunities for SMEs. Thanks to strong knowledge clusters and educational institutions, much expertise is available, and the region is developing rapidly in the field of technology and innovation. These developments offer opportunities to make companies smarter, more sustainable and more competitive. The question is: how can you, as an entrepreneur, make the most of this? Key Region Leiden helps you do just that. We bring you into contact with a relevant network, so that you get access to the knowledge and cooperation that will help your company move forward. This opens new doors and puts you on the map regionally. By strengthening your network in the region, you will be better prepared for the future. Therefore, hook up. Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know about all developments.

From drawing board to practice

Innovation is not only important for large companies or top SMEs. The presence of innovation also has positive effects on broader SMEs, the nurturing economy. They often act as a schanierpunt, because many SMEs are the link between knowledge and the market. How that works. Large companies and knowledge institutions often develop new technologies, but SMEs provide application, production, service and distribution. In short: without SMEs, innovations often don’t get from the drawing board to practice.