In this series, “Meet the people behind Biotech Booster,” we introduce you to the passionate individuals involved in our mission.
A significant part of our team consists of Biotech Booster business and impact developers. They operate on a national level within five distinct Thematic Clusters (TCs) that each represent specific biotech focus areas. Our business and impact developers collaborate nationally on a daily basis to identify early-stage, high-potential biotechnology findings. They guide scientists and aspiring entrepreneurs in their journey to transform their ideas into successful biotech businesses, ensuring that biotechnology findings have a greater and faster positive impact on society.
Name
Marleen Kristen-Fekecs
What is your role within Biotech Booster?
I am a Business Developer for Biotech Booster at Novel-T at the University of Twente. I am part of Thematic Cluster 3, where we focus on ATMPs, Biopharmaceuticals, and Associated Enabling Technologies. I enjoy the work in this team because it has many medical applications and aligns well with my background. I can assist both regionally and nationally, which takes me to many places in the Netherlands, working on projects in Twente and also helping out at other institutions, so no day is the same.
Can you describe your role in a nutshell?
A significant part of my job involves guiding projects: helping with planning and business aspects such as setting up a business plan—all with the goal of bringing what is developed in the lab to the market. I also have smaller tasks, such as scouting for new initiatives that want to be part of the Biotech Booster program or assisting applicants in their process. I also present projects internally to showcase their value in biotech. Through the work business developers do, we create a network among all universities and support the entire biotech ecosystem.
What motivated you to join Biotech Booster’s mission?
I joined Biotech Booster in November 2024 because I think it’s a great combination of my science background and interest in business development. Helping an invention in valorization is really cool to me. I hope that the projects I guide will be successful in attracting more investors and can continue their business, making it more concrete. My vision is to create a network with all business and impact developers so we can continue helping biotech inventions in the long run.
For me, it’s not just about science; it’s about creating solutions that change lives, and that’s exactly what Biotech Booster is all about.
What do you love most about your role? Pick one thing!
I really enjoy my job; each day is different, and the work we do is innovative. Additionally, it’s important to me that we have a positive impact on society.
You recently joined the team. What are your ambitions, and what do you hope to achieve in the coming years?
I appreciate the freedom I get in my role. My ambition is for each person’s expertise and background to be acknowledged so that the tips and networks can help Biotech Booster. We work with a large group of people and experts on different topics, and I would like to see this utilized in the best possible way. We are already working on this through working groups that have started in the team. For example, the working group I am part of focuses on Facilities. Our role is to create an overview of all available labs so that the projects we lead know where they can go for specific facilities. This way, we can understand the expertise available to save time and provide the best help.
If you had a few million to invest in biotech, what type of company would you start yourself or in which company would you invest, and why?
If I had a few million to invest in biotech, I would focus on organ-on-a-chip technology. This platform replicates the functions of human organs on microchips, enabling faster discovery of new treatments and cures while significantly reducing the need for animal testing. This technology has the potential to revolutionize drug development, and I believe investing in such a company would not only advance science but also create a meaningful societal impact by delivering safer, more effective treatments to patients and promoting more ethical research practices.
