The Brainport region continues to evolve. Long recognised for its world-class high-tech systems and materials, the region is now moving rapidly into life sciences and health — a field where engineering meets biology and innovation meets impact.
Amid this growing activity, Helmond Biotech-materials Hub (HBH) has become an important new link in the regional chain. Founded by Life Science & Health entrepreneur Frank van der Zanden and Professor Patricia Dankers, professor of Biomedical Materials at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and CEO of SyMO-Chem, HBH is created to help early-stage innovators move from idea to application more smoothly and effectively.
As Van der Zanden explains, the concept grew from years of experience in laboratory research and entrepreneurship. After two decades in the Life Sciences sector and currently CEO of Sure Laboratories — he saw how challenging it can be for small companies to take the next step. “With HBH, we wanted to make that step easier; a place where science and entrepreneurship naturally reinforce each other,” he says.
That same principle guides Professor Dankers, whose research at TU/e focuses on materials that interact with the body to improve patient care. Known for her work in spin-offs such as VivArt-X and UPyTher, she emphasises the importance of translation: “It is fantastic when fundamental research can be translated into therapies for the patient” she says. “HBH helps in the first steps towards that translation — it gives innovators a place where ideas can take root and grow.”
A practical launchpad for young companies
HBH provides a professional yet accessible environment for startups working on medical technologies, biomaterials and related life-science innovations. It offers shared space, hands-on guidance and access to an active community of specialists and peers who understand the challenges of early growth.
What makes HBH distinctive is its mix of scientific depth and entrepreneurial energy; a reflection of its founders’ complementary backgrounds. Here, young companies find a place to test ideas, gain experience and connect with a broader network in the regional ecosystem. It’s a launchpad for science-driven entrepreneurship, grounded in collaboration and practical. And unlike many new innovation hubs, HBH is built on the sustainable reuse of existing infrastructure, proving that growth and impact don’t require building from scratch.
A strong link in a growing regional network
HBH is part of a wider regional movement that is putting Brainport on the map as a European hotspot for MedTech and BioTech innovation. The recently opened Cureon Innovation Centre at High Tech Campus Eindhoven, with its focus on medtech and biomaterials, illustrates how the region is now connecting every stage of the innovation chain: from research and prototyping to production and clinical translation.
Together with initiatives such as SBMC, BOM, Brainport Development and TU/e, HBH contributes to an open ecosystem built on collaboration rather than competition. Each organisation plays its part: SBMC supports upscaling, Cureon brings together innovators, and HBH provides the foundation where new ventures can take their first confident steps.
Part of what makes Brainport unique
HBH embodies the values that define Brainport: openness, cooperation and the drive to make ideas real. It shows how innovation in this region continues to expand into new domains, connecting academic research with entrepreneurial ambition in a practical, results-oriented way.
For those exploring opportunities in life sciences and health innovation, HBH offers a clear entry point into this growing community.
Learn more at helmondbiotechmaterialshub.nl.
