Els Frankhuijzen bridges the gap between strategy and execution

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.