On 4 March 2026, government representatives and international companies came together in for the Business round table Lunch Life Sciences & Health (LSH). The lunch was hosted by Amsterdam Airport City, the international face of the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, together with the regional partner Amsterdam Trade & Invest.
Held at Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol, the meeting brought together representatives from international companies active across the Life Sciences & Health ecosystem, including pharmaceuticals, medical, health and biotechnology. The conversation was chaired by Mayor Marianne Schuurmans-Wijdeven and Deputy Mayor Marja Ruigrok.
The session focused on strengthening the regional ecosystem and exploring how digitalisation and collaboration can support the continued development of the Life Sciences and Biotech sector in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
“Life Sciences & Health and Biotech is a sector that contributes directly to both economic strength and societal wellbeing. By bringing together international companies and regional partners, we strengthen the ecosystem that enables innovation, collaboration and responsible growth,” said Marianne Schuurmans-Wijdeven, Mayor of Haarlemmermeer.
Strengthening the Life Sciences ecosystem
Haarlemmermeer plays an important role in the Dutch Life Sciences landscape. The municipality is strategically located between major LSH clusters such as Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht and Delft.
More than half of the Netherlands’ Life Sciences companies and research institutes can be reached in less than one hour from Haarlemmermeer. Combined with the international connectivity of Schiphol Airport, this positioning makes Amsterdam Airport City an important gateway to Europe for Life Sciences & Health and Biotech activities.
During the lunch, participants discussed the importance of collaboration across the value chain. A strong ecosystem depends not only on global companies, but also on suppliers, research organisations, startups and scale-ups working together to accelerate innovation.
Digitalisation and AI in healthcare
Another important topic was the role of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in healthcare innovation.
Participants shared how data-driven technologies are increasingly shaping research, diagnostics and personalised treatment. AI can help accelerate research and development processes, while also improving healthcare outcomes.
At the same time, the discussion highlighted the importance of responsible data use, cybersecurity and access to skilled talent. Addressing these challenges requires continued collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions and government.
Collaboration for a future-proof economy
The discussion also addressed the role of government in supporting innovation and economic growth. Public authorities can help create the right conditions for companies by ensuring reliable infrastructure, access to talent and predictable regulatory frameworks.
By maintaining strong dialogue between business and government, the region can anticipate future needs and continue strengthening its position as an attractive location for international Life Sciences companies.
Participating organisations:
- KitePharma
- Omron
- Danone
- IDEXX Laboratories
- Takeda
- Masimo
- Will Pharma
- CP Services
- Amsterdam Economic Board
About the initiative
The Business Lunch series, organised by Amsterdam Airport City in collaboration with Amsterdam Trade & Invest, aims to accelerate key transitions that are vital for a future-proof region.
We believe it is essential to build ecosystems where partners facing similar challenges join forces to tackle them collaboratively.
Together, public and private actors are laying the foundations for cleaner, smarter and more resilient regional ecosystems, securing quality of life for generations to come.
This March, Amsterdam Airport City (Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, in cooperation with Amsterdam Trade & Invest and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) hosted the Airport City Innovation Network Lunch on Life Science and Health.