Everything we do is life changing This is the essence of what LifeTechLimburg and its partners are all about: working towards new medicines and medical technologies that will make important changes to peoples’ lives.
You may come from different backgrounds and different parts of the world, but everyone who is part of the vibrant life sciences community of Limburg has a sense of shared purpose: to improve the quality of life, enabling people to feel better and live longer. This is why we like to think everything we do at LifeTechLimburg is life changing.
If your company aims to do the same and is looking for a helping hand, you should be speaking to us.
How we change life: Finance Infrastructure Research Networking and promotion
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Welcome to LifeTechLimburg
Rich in opportunities – for investors, companies, researchers, visitors, people enjoying life. That‘s Limburg. This region combines the best of Flanders with the opportunities of Europe. And it adds the spice of its surprising, young and pure, openminded character. As the driving force behind the development of life sciences in this region, LifeTechLimburg is your helping hand, whether with financing options, infrastructure, state-of-the-art research or networking and promotion. The result? An inspiring environment offering the life sciences sector in Limburg every chance and opportunity to innovate. No wonder we have already attracted some of the leading pioneers in life sciences.
Everything we do is life changing
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How we change life: Finance
Access to capital is crucial for the development and promotion of the life sciences and biotechnology value chain. With a strong mix of private funding initiatives through LRM plus national and European incentives, our region can provide the financial resources to help fuel innovative life sciences projects. As LifeTechLimburg is your helping hand in guiding you to these financial resources, you could say everything we do is life changing.
Everything we do is life changing
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Finance
Your helping hand in finding capital With heavy investment in research and development, and long and unpredictable investment horizons, most life science companies have difficulties tapping into classical, risk-averse financial sources and therefore have to rely on specialized funding. LifeTechLimburg has established an extensive network of advisers and investment professionals who can assist researchers and entrepreneurs in evaluating, planning and executing new business ideas and help them raise the necessary capital from venture capital firms and government sources.
Local venture capital fund with focus on life sciences One of the managing partners of LifeTechLimburg is LRM. LRM is a regional venture capital fund that provides long-term financing to promising local and international companies with the objective of promoting economic development in the province of Limburg. LRM is the primary venture capital partner for emerging and innovative life sciences ventures in the region. LRM pursues a broad spectrum of investment opportunities ranging from start-up, technologydriven companies looking for first round financing through to later-stage growth companies focused on product development and commercialization. The fund’s primary focus is on medical life sciences and biotechnology, ranging across therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices and enabling
technologies. Investment opportunities are carefully selected on criteria such as management quality, commercial potential, business model and exit strategy. LRM tends to play an active role in the due diligence and investment process as lead or co-lead investor. Typically financing operations are milestone driven and syndicated with high-quality national and international venture capital funds.
More than capital LRM is committed to working closely with its portfolio companies as a true partner in their growth, creating value over the long term. Its team of investment professionals with experience in private equity, corporate finance, biotech operations and consultancy can assist management teams on a strategic level through active involvement in the Board of Directors as well as on an operational level. By actively promoting access to its extensive network of industry and academic leaders, experienced advisors and financial partners, LRM strives to maximize value creation for its portfolio companies.
Governmental funding sources Governmental funding is a further and important financial life line for life science companies. The region of Limburg is an excellent location to access the incentives available through the various agencies and departments of the Regional Government of Flanders and the Federal Government of Belgium, as well as other regional and European funding sources through participation in cross-border projects.
Government incentives The Belgian and Flemish government provide a range of interesting financing opportunities and tax incentives. Grants The Flemish government provides through the IWT (Institute for the promotion of Innovation through Science & Technology) grants to support the development of innovative products & processes. Grants can be up to 60% of project cost, depending on the size of the company, the developmental pipeline and research partners. IWT grants can eventually be complemented by a subordinated loan up to 80% of project cost. The Belgian government, through the Ministry of Economic Affairs, provides cash premiums for strategic growth projects. These range from 5% to 31% of the total investment and for ecological investments up to 35%.
Reduced social security contributions, fiscal incentives Companies can benefit from reductions in social security contributions including structural reductions in employer contributions and specific reductions for employment measures. Personal tax-related deductions include reduced personal income tax for expatriates. Companyrelated deductions include: • deductions for R&D personnel • investment deduction: calculated on the amount of investments in R&D and energy savings • notional interest deduction: from taxable profits depending on the portion of equity financing • 80% tax exemption on specific patent income Together with the Enterprise agency and the Innovation Center Limburg, LifeTechLimburg can guide you through these and other financing programs and tax incentives.
Everything we do is life changing
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How we change life: infrastructure
State-of-the-art infrastructure is vital for the development of R&D driven companies, as well as established companies. With BioVille, the life sciences incubator, and the surrounding science park, we support companies in their infrastructural needs and allow them to grow and become part of the innovative life sciences community. As LifeTechLimburg is your helping hand in providing infrastructure, you could say everything we do is life changing.
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infrastructure
Your helping hand in infrastructure Bioville, the life sciences incubator, encourages and nurtures start-ups and expanding companies in the field of biomedical life sciences. It provides a dynamic and stimulating environment in which entrepreneurs and scientists can develop and expand their ideas and technologies through specialised business facilities and research infrastructure. The life sciences incubator is the result of a joint venture between LRM, Hasselt University and the Limburg development agency POM-Limburg.
State-of-the art infrastructure and services
An extensive service package includes: • permanency at the reception and administrative support, • facility management: waste management, cleaning, maintenance, … • shared facilities: cafeteria, meeting and seminars rooms, • shared lab infrastructure and equipment, • environment and biosafety coordination, • access to the research and development facilities at Hasselt University campus. These services are complemented with the expert support and advice provided by the resident staff of LifeTechLimburg and its extensive network.
BioVille offers 1700 sqm state-of-the-art laboratory and office facilities.
Limburg, region at the crossroads of growth and innovation Over the past years, several studies have ranked the region of Limburg as an ideal place for business. Our unique selling points include: • Central location in north-west Europe. Major cities and industrial regions are located within a maximum three hours radius. 50 % of the European Union’s purchasing power is located within 450 km of Limburg. • Strong multimodal accessibility: extensive road and railway networks and the proximity of international
ports and airports linking Limburg to the world. • Plenty of industrial estates at affordable prices. • Innovation and groundbreaking research as a focal point of our open economy. • Dynamic government offering financial and fiscal support. • Workforce renowned for its skills, flexibility and knowledge of languages. • Beside a pleasant working environment, Limburg also offers all the ingredients for a high quality of life.
Unique concept of early and late development
Touchstone of biomedical life sciences
The life sciences incubator consists of two wings: “early development” and “late development”. This unique concept guarantees an infrastructural pipeline that supports companies in their start-up phase, while equally allowing them to grow towards small production facilities or clean rooms in a more mature stage. The early development wing consists of two floors: shared facilities such as a reception, meeting rooms and cafeteria on the ground floor and laboratory and office facilities on the first floor. The late development wing is highly flexible with respect to required technical installations and allows for the construction of GMP facilities and clean rooms at ground level. This lay-out flexibility for tenants is indeed one of the unique features of our life sciences incubator.
BioVille is embedded in a flourishing life sciences community of research groups and companies on the campus of Hasselt University and in the surrounding science park. The science park currently comprises 11 ha and another 5 ha are under development, including expansion opportunities for companies who have outgrown the life sciences incubator. This favourable location will promote and stimulate the exchange of scientific knowledge and experience between companies, healthcare and research institutes.
Norwegian Sea
Limburg in the heart of Europe The region of Limburg is located in the heart of Europe. Together with its Walloon, Dutch and German counterparts, it has set up innovative cross-border partnerships in the field of life sciences, offering unique opportunities Dublin for the life sciences sector.
North Atlantic Ocean
Helsinki Oslo
Tallinn
Stockholm
NorthSea
Copenhagen
Baltic Sea Minsk
London
Brussels: 80 km Antwerp: 80 km The German Ruhr area: 150 km The Dutch Randstad area (Rotterdam / Amsterdam): 180 km Frankfurt: 300 km Paris: 350 km London: 390 km Berlin: 700 km
Berlin
Amsterdam
English Channel
Brussel
LIMBURG
Warsaw
Frankfurt Prague
Luxembourg Paris
Vienna
Munich
Budapest
Bern Zagreb
Belgrade
Bucharest
Sofia
Madrid
Rome
Lisbon
Tyrrhenian Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Everything we do is life changing
Adriatic Tirana
Ionian Sea
Athens
Aegean
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How we change life: research
The accessibility and transfer of research and technology is essential for the development of the innovative potential of companies. With our outstanding and renown research and clinical expertise, we support the development of a knowledge based economy, supporting optimal interaction between scientists, clinicians and companies. As LifeTechLimburg is your helping hand in finding research and clinical expertise, you could say everything we do is life changing.
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Research
Your helping hand in finding research and clinical expertise Research at Hasselt University is organised in 9 institutes, 5 of which have life sciences activities. The Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) is dedicated to neuroscience and autoimmunity research and –together with the Institute of Material Research (IMO)- the development of biosensors. Over the past 20 years, BIOMED has gathered an outstanding track-record in the field of multiple sclerosis including expertise in (neuro)immunology, physiology, biomarker discovery and clinical trials. BIOMED has a strategical partnership with REVAL (PHL University College) and the Rehabilitation and MS Center in Overpelt and is hence the biggest MS research centre in Belgium. Other research institutes with life sciences expertise are the Centre for Statistics (CENSTAT) that offers biostatistics services, the Centre for Environmental Research (CMK) with expertise in soil remediation, cleantech and plant protection and the Centre of Expertise for digital media (EDM) including expertise in e-health technology.
XIOS University College is well-known for its expertise in packaging, nuclear technology (NuTeC) and its 3D lab. At the KHLim, research is focused on health care management, product design (MDA),environmental and process technology, method development for (bio)chemistry applications (Lab4U), on polymer processing and on automation, ICT and electronics (ACRO). At the PHL University College the focus is on rehabilitation sciences, including applications for multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Assisted by the TechTransfer Office, these institutes can show a strong track record with respect to contract research and collaboration with industrial partners.
Major hospitals in Limburg The two major regional hospitals, the East-Limburg Hospital (ZOL) and the Jessa Hospital have over 2000 beds and perform state-of-the-art research -often in collaboration with Hasselt University- in the fields of oncology, cardiology, medical imaging, in vitro fertilisation, stem cell research and patient safety.
Top technology region Limburg and Hasselt University are situated in the center of one of Europe’s top technology regions: the Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen Triangle, a well known and innovative R&D region crossing the borders of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Less than an hour’s drive away there are 5 universities active in life sciences: the Catholic University of Leuven, Maastricht University, University of Liège and the research institutes in Aachen and Eindhoven. In addition, associated academic hospitals have a strong track record of clinical research in the field of cardiology and oncology.
Biotech@Flanders A long and successful tradition of discovery and innovation in the life sciences has made
biotechnology a core focus in Flanders. Two of the driving forces for biotech R&D and/or production are the Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and FlandersBIO. The VIB engages no fewer than 900 scientists and technologists in both basic and applied research. FlandersBIO is the sector organisation for the Flemish knowledge-based bio-industry. It plays an important role by strengthening the international visibility and image of Flanders as a life sciences region in supporting life sciences companies willing to invest in Flanders.
Human capital Limburg is a fertile soil for human capital: over 300 students graduate in life sciences every year. Counting in the close-by universities of Aachen, Maastricht and Liège over 10,000 students are currently trained in life sciences.
Everything we do is life changing
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How we change life: Networking and promotion
Networking and promotion are needed by any company desiring to maximally exploit its full capabilities. LifeTechLimburg offers guidance towards the best assets within a dynamic life sciences climate. Complementing this guidance with strengthening the international visibility of the regional sciences sector, we are well equipped to respond to the professional needs of companies. As LifeTechLimburg is your helping hand in providing networks and promotion, you could say everything we do is life changing.
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Networking and promotion
Your helping hand in networking and promotion
What can LifeTechLimburg do for your company or organization?
Nowadays, companies and organizations are faced with so many challenges: the continuous strive for innovation, threats and opportunities of competition, organizational management etc. Through its associated partners and its life sciences research partners, LifeTechLimburg has sufficient knowledge and capacities to adequately respond to all the needs and demands from the life sciences sector: scientific and clinical expertise, finance, business guidance, policy management.
LifeTechLimburg offers both individual and more general services. Through our extensive and privileged networks, we can link individual questions and needs to the appropriate solution and/or service provider.
LifeTechLimburg focuses in particular on -biomarkers and therapeutic concepts -medical technology -ICT in health care
Networking Knowledge Transfer Cooperation Innovation Financing Infrastructure
More general services include networking with other sector organizations at national, euregional and international level, strengthening the (inter) national visibility and brand image of the life sciences sector in Limburg, promoting cooperation and interaction between different actors. In short, LifeTechLimburg offers your company or organization resources, specialized information, participation in projects and programmes and network opportunities to help you and your organization reach its full potential. To support the development of the life sciences sector in Limburg, LifeTechLimburg carries out various projects. Examples of these projects include: • Creating a life sciences career community (www.vividlinks.eu) • Promoting entrepreneurship amongst young graduates • Enhancing the innovation potential of organizations by bringing them together and actively supporting new and potential developments