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Idris Oncology one of first companies to receive free human tissue through Codex4SME’s

The Leiden based biotechnology firm Idris Oncology is one of the three SME’s in Europe to receive human tissue through the Codex4SME’s consortium, in order to help them progress their diagnostic product towards clinical application.

Read our story on the transition to personalized medicine here! (in Dutch)

“It is always hard for SME’s to obtain human samples of any kind,” says Idris CEO and founder Hans Peter Mulder. “That’s why we are so happy with the support from Codex4SME’s and its regional partner InnovationQuarter. What has really speeded Idris’ product development is the fact that Codex4SME’s also covers the costs and assists with the supply form BioBank Graz. This way we can treat cancer better.”

“I’m very happy that Idris was one of the first to obtain these free samples* as it will help making cancer treatment to become more personalized,” says Stéfan Ellenbroek, senior business developer Life Sciences and Health at InnovationQuarter. “There are currently a couple of other Zuid-Holland companies in discussion with the BioBank Graz for prospective tissue collection, but I also urge the rest of the ecosystem to check out this nice chance as the vouchers for free samples are limited in amount. Any companies with questions can contact me!”

Idris Oncology one of first companies to receive free human tissue through Codex4SME’s

*Costs covered through the Codex4SME’s Inttereg NWE grant. All tissues are obtained with informed consent.

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Dutch and Flemish Digital Health organisations on a mission to the UK

Programme

The group existed of Dutch and Flemish Digital Health SME’s, care and knowledge institutes. The delegation took part in a rich programme of activities focusing on exploring internationalization opportunities in Scotland and England. The visit provided many opportunities for individual companies to present themselves and have one-on-one discussions with potential technology and innovation partners.

In just four days the delegation travelled to Inverness, Manchester, Liverpool and ended the journey in London. The mission included:

  • visits of various regional and local NHS institutes, the Digital Incubator & Spaces The Landing in Manchester;
  • Q&A sessions with procurement departments of the NHS;
  • a presentation of Global Digital Exemplar of Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals;
  • Pitch & Partnering events with local Clinical, Care, Welfare, Procurement partners and SMEs; and
  • the NHS Highland in Scotland organized 1-to-1 visits for all delegates according to the entrepreneur’s needs.

In addition, the delegation visited the Digital Health Technology and Wearable Technology Show in London. At the Digital Health Technology pitch event, led by Maarten den Braber, many of the delegates got the opportunity to pitch their product. Two winners were announced and we can proudly say that one of our delegation members, Paul Koster from Clinical Science Systems was one of the winners.

Dutch and Flemish Digital Health organisations on a mission to the UK

Digital Business Opportunities

Digital Health is a hot topic in the United Kingdom. In both Scotland and England, the pressure on health care budgets continues to increase. The Five Year Forward View and Personalised Health and Care 2020 describes the need to transform the health and care system to keep care affordable, sustainable and of high quality. Excellent use of information and technology is fundamental to this transformation.

The United Kingdom and the National Health Services in Scotland and England are therefore looking for solutions to their challenges. Which creates ample business opportunities for Digital Health companies from all over Europe.

Organizing parties

OostNL, InnovationQuarter, POM West Flanders & NHS Highland organised this mission together with partner organizations from the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

Furthermore, InnovationQuarter, POM West Flanders and NHS Highland organized this trip as part of the SHINE Interreg program. Where healthcare systems might be region or country specific, challenges in the healthcare sector are not. To overcome these challenges innovative and sustainable solutions are required. The SHINE project aims to push transnational and cross- sector co-operation in the health care economy. New economic activities can be developed that create international opportunities for SMEs and disseminates the most innovative healthcare solutions across the North Sea Region.

SHINE Interreg

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Visit to ship-owners and shipyard

The concept ‘Technology Exchange Roadshow (TER)’ was firsts introduced by Netherlands Maritime Technology (NMT) in the Netherlands as many maritime companies, especially SME’s can have trouble getting in touch with ship-owners. By organizing a joint visit, via NMT, the Dutch Embassy in Singapore and InnovationQuarter, coupled with a current theme that plays well with ship-owners, this opening is more easily created. This gives the participating Dutch companies, Bachmann Electronic, Hydrex, Rubber Design, Subsea Industries, VAF Instruments and VSH Fittings an opportunity to present their businesses and solution.

The four parties visited in Singapore on April 28 were:

  • Thome Ship Management
  • PAC Offshore
  • Triyards
  • Pacific Radiance

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The participating Dutch companies were able to introduce a wide variety of solutions. The ship-owners responded very well to these and indicated that despite the variety, all companies presented solutions relevant to them. The sessions gave all participants an opportunity to  present their company and cost-effective solutions after which there was time for the Singapore companies to ask questions.

InnovationQuarter and NMT are at this time investigating the possibility to organize a TER to Norway. A preliminary outline for the trip has been drafted and can soon be shared with interested companies.

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SEA Asia

The sixth edition of SEA Asia took place in Singapore from April 25th to 27th. This maritime & offshore fair and conference took place in the Marina Bay Sands Complex. This SEA Asia edition in 2017 was visited by 16,000 visitors from 85 different countries. SEA Asia receives strong support from the Singaporean government and the major shipping organizations SSA (Singapore Shipping Association) and MPA (Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore) to firmly market Singapore as a leading place for  both the global and local Maritime & Offshore industry.

The Holland Pavilion was visited on the opening day by the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister of Transport, Mr Khaw Boon Wan. On the second trading day, the Holland Networking Reception was held with a select group of invited guests, including some shipyards and shipowners from Singapore.

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International Robotics Week

Integrating RoboBusiness Europe, TUS Expo and ROS Industrial in one event turned out to be a huge success. For three days, experts in the field of robotics and unmanned systems, and their robots and drones, from all over the world gathered in the Netherlands. The week saw an expo and conference in the World Forum The Hague, tours to labs of the Delft University of Technology and demonstration days in the port of Rotterdam (unmanned harbour) and former airport Valkenburg (drone show). This made clear that the Netherlands has everything needed for robotics companies that want to settle here.

Keynotes

The International Robotics week started on Wednesday, with inspiring keynotes from Kim Liebregts (Tesla Benelux), Noel Sharkey (Responsible Robotics) and Melonee Wise (Fetch Robotics). Wise’s contribution was of particular interest. She pointed out that there are around 1000 robotics start-ups in the world, most of these founded after 2010. Why is that? The answer is open-source robotics (ROS). “Why did this sudden explosion happen? Because of open innovation.” Her company also benefited from ROS.

There are around 1000 robotics startups in the world, most of which were founded after 2010. Why is that?

Sharkey told visitors to think about the ethical aspects of robotics. “We don’t want to sleepwalk into robotics just as we did with the internet.”

Business wise

The IRW is the perfect place for start-ups to present themselves. Prince Constantijn, the startup envoy of StartupDelta, had some advice for them. The preconditions for being successful in the Netherlands are present, but it is not enough to just have a good product. To give this product a place in the market, you have to be ‘business wise’: you need to surround yourself with people who have a sense of enterprise.

Constantijn also visited the RoboValley pavilion, where various startups were gathered together: Delft Robotics, CropZoomer, Clear Flight Solutions, SeaDrone, Robot Care Systems, Robot Security Systems, Robot Engineered Systems, Vectioneer. Also present were the student DreamTeam: Project MARCH, ImProvia and the Care-o-bot from Fraunhofer / Unity Robotics. During the startup event, AeroVinci announced they received a subsidy of € 300.000,-. This allows them to further develop the dronedock technology.

Portal: connect.robovalley.com

During the IRW, we also launched the beta version of connect.robovalley.com: ‘your compass in the world of robotics’. Connect.robovalley.com offers a single place for companies to find the latest news, insights and reports on robotics.

RoboValley Foundation Dinner

Networking is an important part of a large congress. Because of this, the organisation was happy that the city of Delft and InnovationQuarter enabled us to host the first RoboCafé NL in the old town hall of the city of Delft on the first evening of the event. Futurist Aseem Prakash delivered an inspiring presentation, the historical ambience took care of the rest.

A day later, they organised the RoboValley Foundation Dinner in our own offices. The Dutch robotics sector was present, as were several international guests. They were, amongst others, addressed by Delft University of Technology’s rector magnificus Karel Luyben, Aimee van Wynsberghe and Guszti Eiben.

‘Golden Age of Nerds’

“We are living in a golden age of nerds”, concluded comedian Pep Rosenfeld during the closing keynotes a day later. He is right. During the IRW, it became clear how much is happening in the field of robotics and how fast developments are moving. “Robotics and AI are all about possibilities”, said Prakash during his keynote. “Possibilities that humans never have experienced before.”

“Robotics and AI are all about possibilities”

There was room for ethical issues during the closing keynotes. Irakli Beridze of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute told us what the UN is doing in the fields of robotics and AI. Beridze and his organisation have settled in The Hague because of the presence of the Responsible Robotics Foundation. “By joining forces, we want to make this a city of ideas and global policies related to AI and robotics.”

“Over the past few years, we have built a global platform for organisations and people involved in robotics”

RoboValley Platform

RoboValley’s Managing Director, Arthur de Crook, thanked everyone at the end of the IRW. He explained the importance of the event for RoboValley. “Over the past few years, we have built a global platform for organisations, researchers and governments involved in robotics. But we also really wanted to create a moment to show this platform to the world. This moment was the International Robotics Week.” Robotics can contribute to solving the grand societal challenges. This is why it is important to create the next generation robotics. “So we can embrace the future for the good.”

Source / RoboValley