Hospitals
Amsterdam is served by several major hospitals, including Amsterdam UMC and the Netherlands Cancer Institute.
Description
Amsterdam has solidified its position as a premier European life sciences hub, offering a world-class ecosystem that seamlessly integrates pharmaceutical R&D, biotechnology and healthcare innovation.
Centered around the Amsterdam Life Sciences District and Amsterdam Science Park, the region is best known for its "open innovation" culture and dense concentration of academic excellence.
The city serves as a strategic gateway to the EU market, anchored by the presence of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which oversees the evaluation and supervision of medicinal products across the continent. Amsterdam’s biotech sector is a global leader in high-growth fields such as gene therapy, oncology and neurology, supported by top-tier institutions like the Amsterdam UMC and the University of Amsterdam.
In the medical device and medtech space, the region excels in digital health solutions, cardiovascular technologies, and AI-driven diagnostics.
Collaborative public-private partnerships are the engine of this growth, facilitated by organizations like Health~Holland that bridge the gap between lab research and clinical application.
Furthermore, the city’s superior specialized logistics infrastructure, including Schiphol Airport’s temperature-controlled pharma zone, ensures a seamless global supply chain for life-saving treatments.
With a deep pool of international talent and a pro-business regulatory environment, Amsterdam remains a top destination for life sciences investment and scientific breakthroughs in 2026.
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Regions
Universities
Amsterdam is home to leading academic institutions, including the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, alongside the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Together with Amsterdam UMC and the Netherlands Cancer Institute, these institutions form a strong foundation for the city’s life sciences education and research ecosystem.
Government Funding
In 2025, the Amsterdam-based Biotech Booster program secured $213 million from the National Growth Fund to accelerate biotech innovation through 2032. Since its launch, 71 projects have already been admitted, ranging from therapeutic platforms to sustainable biotech applications. This sits alongside over 300 public-private partnerships across the Netherlands’ life sciences sector, reinforcing the city’s role in connecting academic research with entrepreneurial and industrial networks.
VC Funding
Amsterdam’s life sciences startups raised an estimated $118 million in VC funding in 2024.
Life Science Firms
Amsterdam supports a thriving sector with 542 biotech companies (184 therapeutics, 216 R&D services and 142 other), along with 49 fully integrated pharmaceutical companies and 77 digital health companies.
Big Pharma Presence
Several multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Novartis and AstraZeneca, have operations in Amsterdam.
Big Medtech Presence
Amsterdam’s medtech landscape is anchored by both multinationals and innovative scale-ups. Local players include Lapsi Health, Aidence, Lumicks, Castor, Pacmed and SkinVision, alongside global names such as Philips Healthcare. Together, these companies position Amsterdam as a growing center for AI-enabled diagnostics, digital health and medical devices.
Active Clinical Studies
There are over 1200 active clinical studies taking place in Amsterdam.
