RegMed XB welcomed Japanese delegation to strengthen cross-border collaboration (18–20 February)

Over three days, the programme focused on strengthening collaboration in regenerative medicine, with discussions centered on clinical translation, investment, manufacturing, regulatory pathways, and legal frameworks for European market entry.

18 February – Kick-off & Introduction to the Dutch Ecosystem

The visit officially began with a comprehensive introduction to the Dutch regenerative medicine landscape and RegMed XB’s mission to accelerate innovation from bench to bedside. Representatives from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency joined the session to highlight opportunities for international collaboration, investment, and strategic partnerships between Japan and the Netherlands.

The delegation visited leading academic centers, including UMC Utrecht and Leiden University Medical Center, laying the groundwork for deeper scientific exchange and translational collaboration.

19 February – Manufacturing, Investment & European Regulatory Perspectives

The morning featured a visit to NecstGen at Leiden Bio Science Park, offering insight into advanced therapy manufacturing infrastructure and GMP-ready facilities. The delegation also received valuable regulatory guidance from Ana Hidalgo-Simon, who provided the European Medicines Agency perspective on regulatory pathways for advanced therapies in Europe.

The afternoon programme began with an introduction to RegMed XB’s Moonshots, showcasing the integrated Dutch approach to accelerating regenerative medicine.

Speakers included:

• Marianne Verhaar
• Paul Quax
• Joost Sluijter
• Murillo Bernardi
• Maarten Rookmaaker

Their presentations highlighted how the Dutch ecosystem integrates research excellence, translational science, and clinical implementation to achieve patient impact.

Investor Perspectives

Margien Boels, Investment Manager FIRST fund at BioGeneration Ventures, shared insights into funding strategies, investment readiness, and scaling opportunities for regenerative medicine ventures internationally.

Manufacturing: RegMed XB Pilot Factory & GMP Translation

An introduction to the RegMed XB Pilot Factory by Erik Eijrond (Director of Business Operations, RegMed XB) opened discussions on small-scale manufacturing and GMP translation.

The programme continued with speed-dating sessions between the Japanese delegation and three of the five RegMed XB Pilot Factory pilot lines:

• Innovation Center for Advanced Therapies (ICAT)
• ReGEN Biomedical
• Smart BioMaterials Consortium

(NecstGen and Leiden University Medical Center – Regenerative Medicine had been visited earlier in the day.)

20 February – Legal & Market Entry Frameworks

The final morning focused on legal and regulatory considerations essential for successful European expansion.

Sessions were led by:

• Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
• The Genotype Network
• Houthoff
• Genome Lawyers

Key topics included:

• EU regulatory considerations
• Early market access pathways
• Tax law and intellectual property strategies

These discussions provided practical guidance and strategic clarity for Japanese companies exploring collaboration and expansion within the European regenerative medicine ecosystem.

Building a Strong Cross-Border Regenerative Medicine Ecosystem

This three-day visit underscored the shared ambition of the Netherlands and Japan to accelerate regenerative medicine innovation and deliver impact for patients worldwide. By combining scientific excellence, translational infrastructure, investment expertise, and regulatory clarity, RegMed XB and its Japanese partners are strengthening a dynamic cross-border ecosystem built on collaboration and mutual growth.

Thank you to our Japanese partners for visiting the Netherlands, we look forward to continued collaboration.