The Netherlands has a strong scientific foundation, but too few discoveries find their way into new businesses. The Dutch Spin-off Report 2026 by Techleap highlights this challenge, particularly in health sciences. At Oncode, we see both the obstacles and the opportunities to turn promising research into innovations that benefit patients and the Dutch economy.
According to Techleap, the number of researchers in the Netherlands has increased by 28% since 2015, while the number of new academic spin-offs has declined slightly. In health sciences, spin-off creation has fallen by 58%. These figures point to a persistent challenge: scientific excellence does not automatically translate into new businesses or societal impact.
The report identifies three opportunities to strengthen the Dutch spin-off ecosystem: increasing the number of new ventures, improving their quality and accelerating their development. It calls for better ways to identify promising scientific discoveries, support researchers in entrepreneurship and connect new companies with expertise, funding and markets.
This is particularly true in biotech, where developing a promising discovery into a viable technology or treatment often takes years. The scientific and financial risks are high, and private investment is not always available when it is most needed.
Bridging the gap between science and application
At Oncode Institute, proactive valorization is part of the research process. Our Valorization team works with researchers to identify promising discoveries early, develop and validate new technologies, protect intellectual property and connect innovations with industry partners and investors.
Through dedicated technology development funding and the Oncode Oncology Bridge Fund, promising discoveries can receive support at stages where the commercial risks are still high.
Jeroen Blokhuis, Head of Valorization at Oncode Institute.
Jeroen Blokhuis, Head of Valorization at Oncode Institute.
“The Techleap report makes clear that scientific excellence alone is not enough. The Netherlands needs the expertise and funding to turn more discoveries into successful companies. We have seen at Oncode that proactive valorization works: by recognising potential early, supporting technology development and bringing the right partners together, we help research move beyond the lab. The challenge now is to build on these approaches across the Dutch innovation ecosystem.”, says Jeroen Blokhuis, Head of Valorization at Oncode Institute.
At Oncode, this approach is already delivering results.
Laigo Bio, a spin-off from UMC Utrecht and Oncode Institute, builds on fundamental research by Oncode Investigator Madelon Maurice. With early development support and investment from the Oncode Oncology Bridge Fund, the company has developed a technology targeting disease-causing proteins previously considered difficult to treat. In 2025, Laigo Bio secured €17 million in funding to advance its technology towards patients impact. Giving a human face to the OutMARCH project | Oncode Institute
Cyclomics illustrates another route to impact. Together with researchers at UMC Utrecht and the Princess Máxima Center, Oncode Investigator Jeroen de Ridder helped develop Sturgeon, a technology that uses rapid DNA analysis and AI to identify brain tumour types during surgery. The technology is already being used in clinical practice. Through a licensing agreement with Oncode Institute, Cyclomics is now taking the technology forward towards broader application. Cyclomics Secures New Funding to Bring Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Closer to Patients | Oncode Institute
And Single Cell Discoveries, Oncode Institute's first spin-off, demonstrates what can happen over time. Founded in 2018, the company has grown into an international provider of single-cell technologies. Its recent acquisition of Sweden's TATAA Biocenter marks another step in that development. Single Cell Discoveries expands with acquisition of TATAA Biocenter | Oncode Institute
The measure of success should go beyond the number of spin-offs created. What ultimately matters is whether scientific knowledge leads to better diagnostics and treatments, thriving companies and lasting value for patients, society and the economy.
The Dutch Spin-off Report 2026 was published by Techleap. Read also Hollandbio's perspective on strengthening the Dutch biotech ecosystem.