Business Developer Biotech Booster | The Hague

As Business Developer Biotech Booster, you will work for both the TNO unit Health Living & Work and our Technology Transfer Office, as well as collaborate with the national Biotech Booster team.

TNO Healthy Living & Work
Improving the health of citizens physically and mentally. That is our ambition. This requires innovation and a new perspective on health and healthcare. In the field of biotech, this means that we have developed and are developing various technologies that contribute to accelerating the drug development process and provide us with a lot of knowledge and expertise on how diseases arise and can be prevented. We can deploy these technologies in the form of services to companies at every stage of the drug development process. Besides offering services to companies, technologies are also available to scale up through (new) companies. Some examples of our areas of expertise include drug efficacy testing models, in vitro and ex vivo platforms for ADME/DMPK, microbiome, biomarker identification and microdosing Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS).

TNO Tech Transfer Office
Strengthening valorisation is a key part of TNO's strategy. The Tech Transfer programme focuses on the last steps of the innovation process by offering support in developing business cases and determining the best route to market. The aim is to get more and faster knowledge from TNO to land in the market and thus make an impact. It is increasingly common that substantial investments are needed to get to a market-ready product, such as in biotech. Also, some innovations are so disruptive that they do not fit into the existing value chain. In such cases, the possibility of setting up a new company, a TNO spin-off, is explored. Since the start of the Tech Transfer programme six years ago, more than 40 spin-offs have been created.

Biotech Booster
The Biotech Booster programme was set up to improve and make more effective the valorisation level of biotech within the Netherlands. The National Growth Fund programme set up through a collaboration between knowledge institutions, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and companies does this by bringing together the entire biotech field at a national level, with the Biotech Booster team being the focal point for scouting and mentoring early value ideas. With coaching from biotech entrepreneurs and experts, they bring together the right knowledge and facilities to take propositions forward. Funding is also available to further develop and validate propositions.

What will you do:

• Actively scout suitable biotech propositions.
• Assist teams with the steps and funding required to take a proposition forward and make it suitable for the Biotech Booster programme and possible other funding.
• Assist teams with developing a roadmap, business case and business plan.
• Supporting teams by connecting, expanding and deploying the national network of experts, entrepreneurs and facilities and where possible deploying the expertise and models within the TNO unit Healhty Living & Work.
• Coordinate the necessary steps needed to create a new spin-off company.
• Advise spin-off founders on issues involved in starting a company and raising external capital.
• Within the Biotech Booster programme, you assess applications within the so-called Technology Cluster (TC) 5, which focuses on biotech where the end product is used in human health, diagnostics, therapy or its production. This includes projects focusing on the development of vaccines and small molecules for human use and discovery and development platforms.
• Maintain and expand the network of investors and other key external stakeholders such as the KTO/TTO of knowledge institutions, EZK, OCW, NWO, RVO and Techleap.

• Strong passion to make impact with biotech by landing biotech in the market, including by creating successful spin-off companies.
• Strategic mindset to spot opportunities and solve challenges.
• Able to easily interact with different layers in the organisation and stakeholders.
• Proactive and results-oriented attitude.
• Completed university education.
• Fluent command of the Dutch and English languages, orally and in writing.
• Relevant work experience in the biotech field (e.g. in developing and validating business cases, biotech development and commercialisation).
• You have strongly developed the following competences: self-management, result-oriented (dealmaker), organisational sensitivity, persuasiveness and negotiation.

Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 4.291,- and € 6.614,- (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.

TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:

• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave on a full-time basis.
• An employer that values and encourages diverse talent, with initiatives like the Female Leadership Program, our Rainbow Community and round tables on inclusion topics.
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 of 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• Extensive relocation package for international candidates.
• A good pension scheme.

Read more about tailoring your benefits package.

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world. Read more about TNO as an employer.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity and inclusion.

Please apply before the 5th of May, 2024. We aim to finalize the process before the 1st of June, 2024.

An online assessment and reference check may be part of the selection procedure.

For this position, a certificate of no objection ('VGB') needs to be issued by the AIVD following a security screening. For more information, please visit the AIVD website.