PharmaNL and the National Growth Fund
PharmaNL is funded through the National Growth Fund (launched in 2022), through which the Dutch government is investing over €11 billion in projects that contribute to the country’s long-term earning capacity. The fund is managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, with an independent committee advising on allocations and project progress. Within this structure, the ministry submitting the application formally acts as project coordinator.
For PharmaNL, VWS is the formal project coordinator, in coordination with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, while implementation is clearly led by partners such as lead applicant Pivot Park and PharmaNL project manager Floor van de Watering. “It’s a light-touch form of coordination,” says Peterse. “From VWS, I have a central role: I attend meetings and am ultimately responsible for monitoring and reporting to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, but implementation lies with experts in the field. This keeps the process independent and objective.”
Milestones and KPIs
Peterse explains that applications for PharmaNL funding are independently assessed by funding partner ZonMw. “Each project has defined milestones and KPIs,” he says. “For example, at least 50 stakeholders from the pharmaceutical field must actively participate in a programme, and more than 5,000 people must take part in training programmes developed within PharmaNL projects. This allows knowledge sharing and innovation to be measured in concrete terms.”
Impact on patients and society
A core focus of PharmaNL is societal impact. “It’s not only about developing new medicines, but also about patient access,” Peterse emphasizes. “A strong life sciences sector drives innovations that can improve health outcomes and, for instance, provide patients with access to experimental medicines during the development phase, something that would otherwise not be possible.”
The programme does not focus on a single medicine or disease area. “PharmaNL is about knowledge and infrastructure, and the field itself is best positioned to determine where these can be applied first,” he says. “What’s powerful is that successful companies emerge from this, developing new therapies or making existing treatments more accessible to patients in the Netherlands.”
Flexibility and innovation
Flexibility is a key feature of PharmaNL. When the programme was designed three years ago, the role of technologies such as AI in drug development was still uncertain. “We deliberately leave room for that, so that global innovations can also be adopted here,” Peterse explains.
Regional distribution also plays an important role. “We stimulate projects across the entire country, not just in the Randstad,” he adds. “Strong life sciences teams and patient populations are present around universities and clusters nationwide, ensuring innovation is broadly supported.”
Strategic vision and long-term impact
PharmaNL projects are expected to deliver measurable results by 2032. “The programme supports both societal and economic impact,” says Peterse. “A successful medicine can not only help patients, but also contribute to the economy. The biotech and life sciences sector plays a crucial role in this.”
VWS emphasizes that investments in PharmaNL contribute to greater independence in the medicines supply chain, as well as improved availability and access. “The goal is broad: strengthening infrastructure, sharing knowledge, and making innovation more accessible,” Peterse concludes.
With PharmaNL, the Netherlands is taking an important step toward a strong, innovative, and accessible pharmaceutical sector, where collaboration, knowledge sharing, and societal impact are central. As Peterse summarizes: “A strong life sciences sector offers patients hope—for example, access to experimental medicines during development, which would otherwise not be possible.”
Text: PharmaNL (author Marlies Schipperheijn)
Photo: Yorick Peterse
News March 31, 2026 