In 2025, Biotech Talent Unlocked (BTU) once again demonstrated the value of collaboration between the Netherlands and Germany. Students visited companies, new joint courses were developed, and a new Business Lab was launched. In addition, the BTU community continues to grow online, with enthusiastic LinkedIn followers staying up to date on projects, challenges, and events. This strengthens knowledge sharing and interaction among students, companies, and educational institutions. In short, it was a year of impact for biotech talent in the Ems-Dollard region!
After all, that’s what this project is about: organizing a sufficient pool of suitably trained talent for the circular and biobased economy in the Ems-Dollard region. Read more about the achievements of the past year below.
Highlights of 2025
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Joint Course in Bioenergy and Anaerobic Digestion
Dutch and German students worked together on bioenergy projects. During this unique course, they developed innovative solutions and applied their knowledge to real-world cases. The first edition of the course included 35 students from NHL Stenden, Hanze, and Hochschule Emden/Leer. Bioclear Earth BV served as the client for the bioenergy projects. The course was taught by lecturers and professors specializing in bioenergy and applied microbiology, along with Science & Business experts from the University of Groningen. -
Cross-border Learning
Within BTU, students benefit from exchange modules, minors, or master programs at partner universities. Each university has its own expertise, allowing students to choose subjects that align with their interests or specialization goals. For example, students from NHL Stenden and Hanze’s Life Science & Technology program can easily follow each other’s minors via “Kies op Maat,” while exchanges with Hochschule Emden/Leer are possible through an exchange program. Another concrete example is the minor “Renewable Energy, Materials & Processing,” which focuses on various forms of sustainable energy. -
Business Lab Biotalent Unlocked
Students from Hanze and the University of Groningen worked full-time for four weeks on real company assignments. For example, they supported CC Diagnostics with strategic advice for identifying promising laboratories. -
Green Business Challenge Biobased Edition 2025
In October, 50 international students participated in a hackathon to develop concrete biobased business cases for companies and organizations in the Ems-Dollard region. Students from diverse backgrounds, including biology, chemistry, economics, and marketing, worked together on challenges related to energy, raw material use and reuse, and organic materials. -
Excursions and Company Visits
Connecting students with the professional field is a key part of BTU. The Interreg project regularly organizes company visits, including innovative biotech startups at Campus Groningen, Cortalix BV, OPUS Cactus®, and Thermo Fisher Patheon. At Thermo Fisher, 25 biotechnology students learned about cGMP production of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies, as well as how the international company supports drug development and clinical production. In May, Bioclear Earth hosted students from Life Science & Technology | Hanze, NHL Stenden, and Hochschule Emden/Leer. At the Greenwise Campus in Emmen, students visited several companies in (green) chemistry, including Paques Biomaterials BV. -
Meet & Greet Life Sciences
On 4 February 2025, BTU participated in the Meet & Greet Life Sciences, the annual career event of Life Science & Technology | Hanze. Frank Köster and Dr. Jan Felix Köbbing introduced the project to more than 175 third-year students from programs such as Bioinformatics, Biology, Medical Laboratory Research, Chemistry, and Chemical Technology, as well as students from NHL Stenden. At the BTU stand, students actively engaged in discussions about internships, graduation projects, and entry-level jobs. -
Partner Meetings and Collaboration
BTU partners meet regularly to discuss progress and strengthen the biotech ecosystem in the border region. In March, partners met at BBENG in Groningen to reinforce collaboration. On 25 June, a partner meeting was held at Hochschule Emden/Leer, including a tour of research laboratories and discussion of new agreements for the upcoming project phase. -
Growing Online Reach
The BTU LinkedIn page shares updates on projects, visits, internships, and job opportunities relevant to biotech talent. This contributes to steady growth of the platform.
Looking Ahead
BTU continues to expand opportunities for students and companies. The knowledge and experience gained lay a solid foundation for future cross-border biotechnology projects, including in our final project year, 2026. Planned activities include company visits such as to Emsland Group in spring 2026, new joint courses, and participation in events like the Meet & Greet Life Sciences in February 2026, organized by Hanze.
Conclusion
2025 was a year of learning, collaboration, and innovation. Biotech Talent Unlocked demonstrates how education, research, and business can reinforce each other, and that cross-border collaboration truly makes an impact.
Interested in the Biotech Talent Unlocked project? Or do you want to share your ideas and contribute to cross-border innovation in biotechnology? Visit our website for more information and get in touch!
About BTU
The Biotech Talent Unlocked project supports talent retention in Northern Netherlands and Northwest Germany and promotes the development of biobased companies and the green economy. The project is made possible by Interreg Deutschland-Nederland VI A and is supported by a broad consortium of partners: BIO Cooperative, Hanze: Life Science & Technology, University of Groningen, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, BBENG, Hochschule Emden/Leer, and 3N Kompetenzzentrum e.V.
