To: all TU Delft Bioengineering Institute PIs (assistant/associate/full professors)

Invitation to join BEI Meeting Biotechnology @ TU Delft

Starting in 2023, the Dutch government has been working on a trajectory towards a long term vision on biotechnology in the Netherlands. Several reports were already published, for example Trendanalyse Biotechnologie 2023 and Toekomstbeeld biotechnologie 2030-2050. Please find English summaries of these reports on the page Dutch Biotechnology Report Summaries.

On Tuesday 27 May 2025 at Firma van Buiten in Delft, Delft Bioengineering Institute will bring together researchers on the three areas that are identified in these reports. Following a plenary presentation by Michelle Habets of Rathenau Institute we will split up into groups to discuss if and how our current work aligns with these areas, or if we maybe have different takes on how to advance biotech in Delft, The Netherlands and Europe. The three areas are:

Circular Economy (chair: Cees Haringa)

Industrial biotechnology is being used to replace petrochemical-based products with bio-based alternatives. Microorganisms are harnessed to produce chemicals, plastics, and fuels using renewable resources, including agricultural waste and even CO₂.

Food Production (chair: Lotte Asveld)

Biotechnology is improving crop resilience through gene-editing techniques, enhancing sustainability in agriculture. Additionally, cellular agriculture, such as lab-grown meat and microbial protein production, is emerging as a viable alternative to traditional animal farming.

Health (chair: Marcel Reinders)

The role of biotechnology in medicine is expanding, particularly in vaccine development, gene therapy, cancer treatment, and disease diagnostics. The success of COVID-19 vaccines has demonstrated the potential of rapid biotechnological innovations in healthcare.

Please indicate on the registration form which round table discussion(s) you are interested in to join. We look forward to meeting you on 27 May, kind regards, Cees, Lotte, Marcel and Nienke