The aim of the new programme is to develop talent for the region’s fast-growing biotech companies and provide solutions for tomorrow’s global food challenge. Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag (MRDH) and the municipality of Delft support this initiative. From MRDH, Planet B.io will receive a project contribution of €425,000 as co-financing for equipping teaching and lab space for students.
The project will give an enormous boost to the development of the biotechnology cluster and add a relevant, future-oriented course to the education on offer in the region. Investing in education in modern biotechnology is necessary to guarantee the availability of sufficient talent to enable the growth of biotech companies.
Start in 2024
Together with Inholland University in Delft, the intention is to develop a fully-fledged research and education programme at higher vocational education level for the entire region. This should lead to an intake of 100 new students per year from 2024 and active cooperation with the entire education chain, from intermediate to university level. The students will work and learn in an inspiring location between young biotech companies and multinational DSM, one of the largest Bioscience and Food Ingredient companies in the world. Preparations and the design of research assignments will begin in the short-term.
Biotechnology is a promising technology for which there is fertile ground in the Dutch province Zuid-Holland. In the city of Leiden, the focus is on biomedical applications, and in Delft on food applications. There is already close cooperation between the Erasmus (Rotterdam), Delft and Leiden universities, and the various campuses are also explicitly working together to develop an innovation district. This will contribute to national and international profiling of the region, a strong economic business climate and new regional activity.
For more information, visit the Biotech Campus Delft website.
Picture ltr. Fabian van der Horst, managing director Inholland and Cindy Gerhardt, managing director Planet B.io
