News

We’re delighted to share that this month NWO has announced the seventeen fellows selected for our fourth cohort. They will start their Faculty of Impact journey in March.

Biotech Booster CEO Nettie Buitelaar points out how this National Growth Fund programme boosts nation-wide collaboration in the field of life sciences and biotechnology, helping young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into real-world societal and economic impact. She welcomes all initiatives that increase the social impact of Dutch science, stressing the importance of close collaboration with other programmes that aim for the same target, like the Faculty of Impact and the Venture Challenge.

Early-stage investor Thom Frielink (Curie Capital) advises young entrepreneurs to connect with experienced mentors and to always stay critical of their own business. He shares his thoughts on the financing landscape, considering the Faculty of Impact a valuable addition to the Dutch innovation landscape by softening the landing from academia to the private sector.

Upcoming events (Oct 2024–Feb 2025) include major AI, tech, and startup conferences like World Summit AI, DPW, Web Summit, Slush, and sector-focused investor summits in Amsterdam, Lisbon, Helsinki, Utrecht, and beyond—plus monthly online webinars on EU funding, IP, and startup support.

Faculty of Impact has welcomed new fellows who are turning science into real-world solutions: a mood-boosting fermented food bar, sustainable battery electrolytes, and affordable tactile displays for the (deaf)blind.

Margrethe Jonkman, Chair of VU Amsterdam, stresses that innovation needs stronger investment and scaling, warning that without a well-stocked pipeline of ideas and talent, the Netherlands risks falling behind. She champions the Faculty of Impact as a vital instrument but argues it must grow far beyond its current scale to truly deliver societal and economic returns.