4DM tool maps the Dutch pharmaceutical ecosystem: join us

News September 7, 2026

What knowledge and expertise are available in the Netherlands for the development of new medicines? What infrastructure and facilities are available, and where are there still needs or opportunities? The PharmaNL 4DM tool maps the Dutch pharmaceutical ecosystem and highlights where organisations can strengthen one another.

The development of a new pharmaceutical product is a complex process. From fundamental research and drug discovery to clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory processes and application, each stage requires different forms of knowledge, expertise and infrastructure.

To make this entire chain more transparent, PharmaNL developed the Drug Discovery, Development and Deployment Map, or 4DMap. The map provides a clear overview of the different stages and components involved in the development process.

From 4DMap to 4DM tool

The 4DMap provides the framework for the 4DM tool. While the 4DMap shows which components and stages play a role in the development of pharmaceutical products, the 4DM tool maps who and what is available in the Netherlands across these different areas.

To do this, PharmaNL collects information through interviews with companies and knowledge institutions. The findings are aggregated and incorporated into interactive dashboards. This provides insight into available knowledge and expertise, infrastructure and facilities, needs and potential gaps within the Dutch pharmaceutical ecosystem.

The aim is not only to understand what is already available, but also to highlight opportunities for connections and collaboration.

“The strength of the 4DM tool is that it provides insight into the national landscape of supply and demand within the Dutch pharmaceutical sector. By making expertise, facilities and infrastructure visible, the tool helps prevent fragmentation, facilitates new collaborations and supports organisations in developing data-driven investment agendas,” says Debby Vermeer, PharmaNL 4DMap project coordinator.

A national picture that continues to grow

The 4DM tool is not a static database. PharmaNL continuously works to expand and update the information. That is why, alongside the 4DM tool, PharmaNL is also developing the PharmaNL Company Map: a national overview of companies and knowledge institutions involved in the pharmaceutical sector.

The company map is continuously updated. Organisations marked with a green pin have been interviewed for the 4DM tool; organisations marked with a grey pin have been mapped but have not yet been interviewed.

This makes it increasingly clear which organisations are part of the Dutch pharmaceutical ecosystem and where additional information can still be added.

Join us

The strength of the 4DM tool lies in the breadth and up-to-date nature of its information. That is why PharmaNL invites companies and knowledge institutions to contribute to the further development of the tool.

By taking part in an interview, you contribute to a more complete picture of the Dutch pharmaceutical ecosystem. At the same time, your organisation gains greater insight into the knowledge, expertise and infrastructure available elsewhere in the Netherlands. This can open the door to new connections and opportunities for collaboration.

Would you like your organisation to contribute to the 4DM tool? Email info@pharmanl.org.

Explore the 4DM tool and the 4DMap on the PharmaNL website.