The health research-strong region of Maastricht in the Netherlands has been inducted into the Health Axis Europe strategic alliance.
The news comes following a visit by the Employers’ Association of the Province of Limburg (LWV) representatives of the biomedical clusters, who congregated at Heidelberg Castle to formally induct Maastricht.
The founding partners from the Health Axis Europe – Cambridge (UK), Leuven (Belgium), and Heidelberg (Germany) – were present to welcome the Dutch partner, which consists of Maastricht University, Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus and Brightlands Chemelot Campus.
Earlier this month, the Biotech Cluster Rhine-Neckar (BioRN), which is based in Heidelberg, won the tender of the Federal Ministry for Education Research (BMBF). Over the next four years, development funds of up to €4m will go into Health Axis Europe projects.
Christian Tidona, managing director of the BioRN Network in Heidelberg, said: “The accession of Maastricht to the Health Axis Europe is an important step towards the creation of critical mass in Europe.
“The fact that the BMBF has again selected Heidelberg for funding is encouraging us to move ahead with the internationalisation of our leading-edge cluster.”
The alliance in managed and coordinated by the Health Axis Europe Committee, which comprises of members from each cluster that represent local industry, science, politics and venture capital.
The partners agreed on the initiation and coordination of cross-border cooperation in research and development and also concerning the support of start-ups.
The clusters in Cambridge, Leuven and the BioRN cluster in Heidelberg founded the Health Axis Europe in June 2011, with the aim of utilising the resources of each member to increase international competitiveness.