Toespraak van minister Kamp bij de opening van de Leiden Biotech Facility

Toespraak | 08-02-2016

Ladies and gentlemen,

A sewing machine motor, sausage casings and aluminium taken from a crashed German bomber. That's what Dr Willem Kolff used back in the 2th World War to build the world's first artificial kidney. It was an enormous contraption. But it kept a dying kidney patient alive for 4 weeks.

Dr Kolff's artificial kidney sparked a technological revolution in medicine. Today, the field of regenerative medicine builds on Dr Kolff's insight that physical illness often has a mechanical component. Meaning that it can be fixed.

For example, doctors and researchers at Leiden University and its medical centre, LUMC, are doing ground-breaking research on stem cells that can be used by the body to repair damaged organs. Scientists may even be able to grow completely new organs in the future.

As for the artificial kidney: it's about to enter a new phase. As a result of joint efforts with the Kidney Foundation, the 1th portable artificial kidney should be ready for testing by the end of next year. It's not the first time that pooling the expertise and experience of knowledge institutions, companies, civil society organisations and public authorities has led to game-changing discoveries.

It's also this kind of innovation that we need to make our economy grow. The Netherlands is one of the top 5 most competitive economies in the world. We're keen to consolidate that position. And we see the best opportunities in innovations that solve major social challenges. Like feeding the growing global population. Healthy ageing. And helping people live independently in their own homes for as long as they can.

The 9 top sectors identified by the Dutch government lead their field internationally in terms of innovation. The top sector Life Sciences and Health is a case in point. It's a strong international performer. And the quality of Dutch biomedical research is outstanding. That’s why foreign drug companies have been so eager to buy Dutch R&D spin-offs like Acerta Pharma and Prosensa.

2015 was a good year for the sector. It stepped up collaboration with healthcare funds like the Dutch Heart Foundation and the Dutch Cancer Society. This led to an substantial increase in the sector's budget. Innovation isn’t only about research, however. It's also about applying new findings. Medical advances don't always reach patients. That’s why the ministry of Health and my ministry have jointly introduced Health Deals. Like Green Deals for achieving sustainability goals, these are agreements with private parties and civil society actors on achieving innovation in health care. Medical advances that have real added value for patients. And that save money. Health minister Edith Schippers and I have high expectations of these Deals.

In order for the top sectors to function properly, it's important to have enough highly skilled staff. So, at the end of last year, the 9 sectors set out the Human Capital Roadmap for a highly skilled workforce. Later this year, Life Sciences and Health will present its own Human Capital action plan.

As the Roadmap points out, the top sectors want to bolster their ties with institutions of vocational and higher professional education. By 2019, the expertise centres run by universities of applied science and secondary vocational institutions should have doubled their innovative capacity. And both the government and the top sectors are aiming for four out of every ten graduates to have a science or engineering degree.

For students interested in studying pharmacy, Leiden is the place to be. It's my pleasure to open the new Biotech Training Facility today. Its labs and cleanrooms offer a unique environment for advanced practical training in the Netherlands.

The new Facility is a wonderful addition, first of all, to Leiden's Bio Science Park. It's also a boon for the life sciences and health sector, which wants to make lifelong learning a reality. This facility is not only for students; it's also intended for scientists, pharmacists, hospital staff and lab technicians.

Ladies and gentlemen,

If Willem Kolff were still alive, he might have tested his equipment at the training facility. This testing ground is an example of what can be achieved when business professionals, scientists, civil society actors and public authorities get together in a single network. It's one of the sector’s many innovations. And a major step forward for Dutch biomedicine.

I wish you all every success in your work here!