Four Years of Connecting: The Farewell of Hubertus Irth, a Driving Force Behind PharmaNL

News January 29, 2026

Hubertus Irth

After nearly four years, Hubertus Irth is stepping down as a board member of PharmaNL, the national pharmaceutical programme made possible in part by funding from the Dutch National Growth Fund. As an academic and one of the programme’s founders, he played a key role in shaping the consortium, which brings together Leiden University / Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Campus Groningen and Pivot Park. Looking back, Irth reflects on the intensive start-up phase and the collaboration between universities, science parks and regional initiatives that emerged from it. As he puts it himself: “Individually, our plans were interesting, but it was only when we joined forces that we were truly able to make a difference.”

From Growth Fund application to PharmaNL

Hubertus Irth’s involvement in PharmaNL began during the second round of applications to the Dutch National Growth Fund. In his role as Scientific Director of the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) at Leiden University, he submitted a proposal focused on early drug discovery. The aim was clear: to give promising academic discoveries just that extra push towards further development.

“It was the first time in my life that I signed off on a project worth thirty million euros,” Irth recalls. “And yet we were told: interesting, but actually too small.” That message turned out not to be a rejection, but an invitation. Initiatives from Oss (Pivot Park) and Groningen received the same feedback: strong on their own, but far more powerful together. The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs asked the parties to combine their efforts into a single, integrated proposal.

Building together under time pressure

What followed was an intense summer. With a deadline in the autumn, the three consortia worked closely together on a joint proposition. “We were the smallest consortium, so we really had to deliver something outstanding,” says Irth. “That experience bonded us enormously.”

The collaboration proved surprisingly natural. Where competition might have dominated a year earlier, a shared ambition now took centre stage. “We knew we could only do this together. And despite the pressure, that actually made the process enjoyable.” The effort paid off: the integrated proposal was ultimately awarded €80 million in funding, laying the foundation for PharmaNL.

Governing from an academic perspective

Following the funding decision, the consortium was formally established and Irth joined the board as a representative of Leiden University and LUMC. In a board strongly shaped by science parks and regional ecosystems, he saw a clear role for himself.

“I was the only academic on the board,” he explains. “I tried to represent the academic perspective properly, while also understanding the dynamics of science parks and private partners.”

That role also meant being willing to ask critical questions. “You have to live innovation. It can’t just be ‘thank you for the money, see you in five years’. Public funding requires accountability and visible impact.”

From pilot projects to national examples

According to Irth, PharmaNL is still in its early days, but important steps have already been taken. The projects that have now been awarded funding grew out of the original applications and serve as the first concrete examples in practice. “PharmaNL doesn’t have the budget to transform the entire country at once,” he notes. “But we do have the means to develop best practices. And those can inspire and support others.”

A key principle is that projects should not only deliver regional benefits, but also be transferable. “Knowledge and infrastructure funded with public money must be accessible to others. That is ultimately what PharmaNL projects will be assessed on.”

A deliberate step back

Irth’s departure from the board coincides with a new phase in his career. In his current role as Scientific Director at the Institute for Biology at Leiden University, he is less directly involved in the pharmaceutical sector. “You inevitably lose some connection with day-to-day developments,” he explains. In addition, he will retire as emeritus professor at the end of this year. “That makes this a logical moment to pass on the baton.”

He does so with confidence. His successor, Miranda van Eck, brings new energy and a fresh perspective. “Everyone fills a role like this in their own way. And after four or five years, it’s healthy to make room for someone new.”

The future of PharmaNL

Although the National Growth Fund has a finite duration, Irth is confident about PharmaNL’s future. In his view, the key lies in building a strong track record. “You don’t receive follow-up funding because you once received funding before,” he says. “You receive it because you’ve shown that you used those resources well. Successful projects are the best justification for a next phase, whether that funding comes from national or European sources.”

He also stresses the importance of connectivity within the sector. Fragmentation is a constant risk in a field with significant interests at stake, but collaboration is essential, also for societal acceptance. “The pharmaceutical sector doesn’t always enjoy a positive public image,” Irth observes. “That’s precisely why it’s so important to demonstrate, together, the contribution we make to society.”

Gratitude and legacy

What Hubertus Irth will remember most is the atmosphere within the board and the wider team. “It was always constructive, professional and with room for humour. You never had to go into a meeting with a knot in your stomach.” With his departure, he leaves behind a solid foundation, built on trust, collaboration and the conviction that real progress is made when people and regions truly connect.

Text: PharmaNL
Photo: Hubertus Irth (2025). Photographer: Barbra Verbrij