Chapter 3
Around the globe
International Partnerships
INTERVIEW
with Cinzia Silvestri
In this interview, Cinzia Silvestri from Bi/ond tells us about how she experienced 2023. In this year, she won the Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award and visited Boston during the economic mission in June. The award was handed to her during the Henri Termeer dinner, which was part of the economic mission program. She shares with us the value of being a Termeer Fellow.
Background
Cinzia came to the Netherlands in 2012 to do her PhD in microelectronics, which in fact has nothing to do with life sciences. ‘In the lab where I worked, I collaborated with researchers from diverse fields. The other 2 co-founders of Bi/ond, Nikolas Gaio and William Quiros Solano, were focused on biological applications, a departure from my own research. Yet, from this diversity, the idea to start a company together was born.’
With two different worlds combined, they aimed to build a bridge between biology and engineering. With no business experience, Cinzia, Nikolas and William decided to participate in the Venture Challenge, to get the guidance to develop their initial idea into a solid business case. Since their participation the start-up Bi/ond has grown into a solid business. Their goal is to develop a lab technology for more accurate drug testing starting from muscular distrophies. More about Bi/ond: https://www.gobiond.com/
The mission to Boston
Cinzia explains that the mission to Boston was of great value to her. ‘I realised that Boston is the place to be in the LSH-sector, sooner or later you have to go there.’ It gave her the opportunity to strengthen her international network with Boston.
In addition to this, the visit to Boston was also very useful to get to know the Dutch LSH sector through meeting the delegates, consisting of Dutch entrepreneurs, researchers and government representatives, since she is coming from a different background than life sciences.
Cinzia adds to this: ‘It's fascinating to witness the awareness of each individual's contribution within the LSH ecosystem and recognise the significance of their role in ensuring its functionality.’
Recognition Henri Termeer Award
‘At the Termeer Foundation dinner, receiving the award filled me with gratitude and pride. Although being in the spotlight can be challenging, the pitch video they broadcasted helped me connect instantly with all the attendees,’ says Cinzia. She adds: One of the remarkable aspects of the Termeer Foundation is their ability to facilitate connections with individuals they believe can provide valuable support for your business.'
Furthermore, it's not just about networking but also about nurturing relationships within the fellowship. Through ongoing monthly mentorships, the foundation provides an invaluable experience. 'It's a safe place for candid conversations, in-depth discussions, and continuous learning.'
'It was interesting to discover, for example, that as a European, one often assumes that we face more challenges than our American peers. However, some of these challenges are very similar. Additionally, I'm pleased to see many female mentors within the Termeer Foundation dedicated to foster inclusivity within their mentorship framework.'
Take-home message
If you aspire to progress, both in your business and personal growth, it's essential to be receptive to coaching and maintain an open mindset. Within the Termeer Foundation, the emphasis is always on supporting your growth journey. It's important to acknowledge that you may not possess all the answers,’ notes Cinzia.
She continues, ‘The invaluable lessons and guidance I’m receiving from the Termeer Foundation will have a lasting impact. I'm committed to ensuring that, one day, if I can convey my knowledge to a younger entrepreneur, I will pay forward what I've gained. Mutual assistance is fundamental for collective progress. I believe this collaborative spirit is a key driver behind the success of Boston's thriving ecosystem.’
Lasting
Impact
Henri Termeer Foundation
Combining international biotech ecosystems
The Termeer Foundation is a nonprofit organisation working to connect and promote the world of healthcare innovators until every patient has a cure. They understand that bringing new treatments to patients is grueling work with a low probability of success – nearly 90% of drug candidates fail to reach the market. The foundation believes they can improve these odds by positively impacting the human variables in healthcare. They are committed to continuing Henri’s legacy of leadership success
by infusing and sustaining the pipeline of current and future leaders to increase the probability of solving healthcare’s greatest challenges. Their supports include mentoring, networking, professional development and financial grants intended to facilitate connections, break down silos, strengthen skillsets and ultimately enable a diverse array of current and future biotech leaders who bring much-needed treatments to patients.
'The excitement and interest that was created over the last three years has provided an excellent platform from which to continue to support future biotech leaders through this unique opportunity,' said Catharine Smith, Executive Director, the Termeer Foundation. 'The biotechnology industry is truly a global business environment, and the Foundation is committed to creating programs for future industry leaders that elevate them within this international landscape.'
Transatlantic partnership
The Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award began as part of an agreement in July 2019, between the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, which created and signed a Memorandum of Understanding laying the basis for a Massachusetts – Netherlands Transatlantic Life Sciences Partnership.
The signatories included Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (Health~Holland), MassBio, HollandBIO and the Termeer Foundation (previously represented by the Henri A. Termeer Tribute Committee); all of whom agreed to provide support and organise activities to promote transatlantic collaboration between the two biotechnology ecosystems.
The Termeer Foundation appreciates the developing and deepening partnership with colleagues in the Netherlands to support biotech leaders in both life science regions. They are currently partnering with Health~Holland and HollandBIO to provide an opportunity for a delegation of the fellows to visit the Netherlands during the week of Innovation for Health, 2024.
More Collaborations!
Innovation cooperation between the Netherlands and Switzerland
How is innovation cooperation between the Netherlands and Switzerland going? This question was answered by Rik Boddeus, Innovation Attaché and regional representative for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. He is based at the Netherland Embassy in Vienna, and covers Austria and Switzerland.
The Netherlands and Switzerland are natural partners in innovation and cooperate on many levels, from the individual level, looking at guest students and PhDs going back and forth and the many individual companies that cooperate in research & development, to more programmatic forms of cooperation. Within one of the multilateral innovation programs, Eurostars, Switzerland is even the #1 partner for the Netherlands.
Programmatic cooperation
Our role at the Netherlands Innovation Network, in very close cooperation with the colleagues from the Netherlands Embassy in Bern, is to foster demand-driven innovation cooperation. This means in practice, a top sector has defined Switzerland as a priority country, and will ask us for help with setting up programmatic cooperation.
This might take the shape of high level visits and missions, round table dialogues, and finding specific partners for individual research organisations or companies. The Dutch government also supports industry and research institutions with their joint visibility – you might have seen our distinctive orange branding.
Demand-driven
Innovation cooperation
Innovation cooperation
Stepping up our efforts
Given the many links that already exist in the innovation domain between Switzerland and the Netherlands and the ambition of the industry, for example the Top Sector Life Sciences and Health, we aim to step up our efforts and jointly tackle societal challenges, while fostering our ecosystems and creating economic growth in the process.
More information about Mission-oriented Research and Innovation Policy in the Netherlands, you can read in the full article: Mission-oriented Research and Innovation Policy in the Netherlands
Four MoU's with Sweden!
Even more collaborations! Recently the bond between Sweden and the Netherlands got strengthened! Four Memoranda of Understanding have been signed by companies and academia.
