Cabinet: in 2040 the Netherlands is frontrunner in biotech
The cabinet has the ambition of the Netherlands being among the global frontrunners by 2040.
Published on April 15, 2025
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Biotechnology has become indispensable. Biotech innovations can make plants resistant to drought and pests, for example. Medicines for infectious and rare diseases are also being developed more quickly. It is essential that we in the Netherlands and Europe get innovations in this field to market faster. The cabinet, therefore, has the ambition that the Netherlands will be among the global leaders by 2040.
This is stated in the cabinet's vision on biotechnology, which the council of ministers has approved based on the proposal of minister Beljaarts (Economic Affairs) and state secretary Jansen (Infrastructure and the Environment).
Old and new financing
The cabinet will invest almost €1.3 billion extra in biotechnology over the next few years through projects in the National Growth Fund (NGF) alone. A more targeted use of these and other existing resources and investigating the scope of current legislation and regulations can help strengthen the position of the Netherlands in this area in the short term. The cabinet is also looking into possible new financial incentives for the longer term.
At the European level: equal regulations
The cabinet is also advocating for the EU to harmonize regulations between member states based on the latest scientific knowledge. This will stimulate innovation and create a level playing field within Europe itself.
