Hailing from Massachusetts, USA, Thermo Fisher Scientific is one of the largest life sciences companies in the world. The American multinational’s operations are cutting-edge and diverse, pushing the envelope in everything from life sciences research and therapy development to supply chain solutions, laboratory technology and beyond. As Thermo Fisher advances into the future, it is leveraging and growing its presence in the Netherlands to achieve its forward-looking ambitions.
The Netherlands is among the most vital locations for Thermo Fisher in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The company operates across 10 locations within the Dutch life sciences & health ecosystem. It employes more than 3,000 people in the country that span a variety of fields and specialties. The company operates with two sites in Bleiswijk: one is its European Distribution center, which ships thousands of orders per day, from small vials of antibodies to big instruments. The center has played a massive role during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling self-testing kits and vaccines across the globe. Thermo Fisher’s other Bleiswijk site is a new clinical and commercial ultra-cold facility that delivers tailored, end-to-end supply chain solutions for pharma and biopharma customers.
In Groningen, a contract manufacturing organization in biologics specializes in cGMP manufacturing of recombinant monoclonal antibodies through mammalian cell culture for the treatment of different human diseases, including several types of cancer. Thermo Fisher also manufactures animal health diagnostics in Lelystad; and in Eindhoven, its largest Dutch location, the company operates a center of excellence for electron microscopy.
Thermo Fisher’s Groningen biologics facility specializes in cGMP for (pre)clinical and commercial manufacturing
Synergy in mission and innovation
The Dutch ecosystem and Thermo Fisher are anchored by shared values. Thermo Fisher’s mission is to enable its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. It aligns closely with the Dutch government’s mission-driven innovation policy to make a significant contribution to global societal challenges such as the Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, also known as Health~Holland.
Maurits Smits, Thermo Fisher’s director of external relations in Eindhoven, describes how the Dutch ecosystem fosters innovation, growth and collaboration: “The synergy among companies, academia, research organizations in the Netherlands propels us forward and in turn, we play a significant role in pushing others forward as well. In the Netherlands, we have a lot of talent and knowledge. That has a pulling effect on companies and people who want to work with and for highly innovative companies like Thermo Fisher.”
Given the size and scope of Thermo Fisher’s Dutch presence, it is not surprising the company has also developed strong, enduring relationships with a wide array of universities, hospitals, patient networks, healthcare companies, research organizations and governmental entities in the Netherlands. This exemplifies the renowned Dutch quadruple helix approach to life sciences collaboration.
“Improving patient outcomes, solving environmental challenges and addressing pressing societal issues of our time are our daily goals and challenges. The Dutch ecosystem fosters collaboration and is essential for driving innovation, which aligns perfectly with our core values,” adds Steve Reyntjens, current Site Lead in Eindhoven with 20-plus years at the company. “And for our Eindhoven site, the innovative and high-tech ecosystem doesn’t stop at the border. Belgium and Germany are less than an hour drive away from us. We are at the heart of a dense network of strategic important and collaborative partners.”
Thermo Fisher and the Dutch government’s mission-driven innovation policy share synergies in both mission and innovation. The picture showcases an example of a 3D reconstruction and volume rendering part of a biological cell created by Thermo Fisher’s Tomography Workflow featuring the Krios Electron Microscope. The Krios Electron Microscope is developed and manufactured in Eindhoven.
State-of-the-art research for groundbreaking solutions
Located in the Brainport region of the Netherlands, Thermo Fisher’s electron microscopy premises are a testament to the world-class research capabilities offered by the Dutch ecosystem. The location’s history goes back 75 years, to when Dutch multinational Philips began developing electron microscopes in Eindhoven in 1949. The facility was taken over by an American company, FEI, in 1997. Two decades later in 2016, Thermo Fisher acquired FEI – recognizing the great potential for electron microscopy to accelerate advancements in structural biology, material science and semiconductors, due to increasing demand for nanotechnology solutions in those fields.
Today, Thermo Fisher’s Eindhoven location is a hotspot for Dutch and international talent, employing more than 1,300 dedicated professionals and representing more than 45 nationalities. Those employees are creating groundbreaking solutions in electron microscopy, positioning Thermo Fisher as a global innovator in the field. The state-of-the-art facility is also a hub for novel research applications and manufacturing of electron microscopes. It also welcomes new and existing users and provides them with full service across the lifetime of a system.
“Understanding user challenges is essential to developing technical breakthroughs to the world,” Reyntjens explains. “Our technology allows researchers to explore molecular structures down to the scale of atoms – comparable to recognizing a butterfly from the moon. This capability enables researchers to make informed decisions that contribute to a healthier, cleaner and safer world. Working on solutions to global societal challenges is incredibly fulfilling. Our microscopes are utilized by several Nobel laureates, and their feedback has driven further advancements in our technology.”
In Eindhoven, Thermo Fisher’s largest Dutch location, a center of excellence for electron microscopy is situated.
Collaboration in Dutch life sciences, high-tech ecosystems
As Smits notes, Themo Fisher embraces other companies in local Dutch ecosystems like the Brainport region, viewing them as catalysts for shared innovation: “From my office, I can see a neighboring Philips building, a reminder of where we originate from. Philips’ heritage influences the entire region, intertwining various companies within the local ecosystem, including ASML’s semiconductor equipment. The Brainport region now brings together world-class experts in technology, manufacturing and academia, fostering collaboration and accelerating technological development.”
It’s one example of how Thermo Fisher has become a major player in the Netherlands, contributing to the country’s life sciences & health ecosystem as well as its high-tech sector. The company’s electron microscopes have far-ranging applications, from advancing semiconductors and lithium batteries to enabling research for Alzheimer’s disease and precision medicine. In fact, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Thermo Fisher’s electron microscopes captured the initial images of the coronavirus proteins. Smits summarizes the company’s impact: “We really make a difference for humanity.”
In addition, Thermo Fisher has joined the groundbreaking CollChain project – a joint collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology and Dutch semicon tech giant ASML. The project, which aims to explore innovative forms of collaboration that can accelerate and optimize the entire high-tech supply chains, further illuminates how Thermo Fisher is contributing to the Netherlands in partnership with other companies and knowledge institutions.
Innovating supply chains for advanced therapies
Thermo Fisher’s commitment to supply chain innovation is very clearly seen in its Bleiswijk location. In June 2024, the company expanded in Bleiswijk with a new clinical and commercial ultra-cold facility that delivers tailored, end-to-end supply chain solutions for pharma and biopharma customers. The facility will help Thermo Fisher grow its clinical trial network in Europe and accelerate the development of advanced therapies, including cell and gene therapies, biologics, antibodies and vaccines.
As a hotspot for clinical research and cell and gene therapy, the Netherlands is the ideal place for Thermo Fisher to build its network in these fields. The Bleiswijk facility is strategically located just 30 minutes from Amsterdam and equipped with advanced bioservices and specialty logistics capabilities. It’s also sustainable – designed to use 15 percent solar power and operate gas-free, while using ultramodern heat recovery technology. Thermo Fisher’s investment in Bleiswijk as a European supply chain hub shows how the Netherlands offers companies fertile ground to develop smart logistics solutions while crafting a greener future.
Thermo Fisher’s Bleiswijk facility offers cold chain services for clinical trials success
A bright and sustainable future for Thermo Fisher in the Netherlands
Looking ahead, Thermo Fisher will continue to invest in the Netherlands as a strategic hub for innovation, sustainability and business growth in Europe. The company is undertaking ambitious expansion plans in Eindhoven, for example. In 2021, Thermo Fisher acquired an adjacent building in Eindhoven, boosting production by 20 percent. To accommodate its growing energy needs, the company is seeking smart energy solutions including battery storage, more energy-efficient microscopes and collaboration with other companies to optimize energy supply and demand. “We are not only innovative in our product offering, we are innovative in every aspect of what we do. In fact, energy challenges foster creativity and innovation,” Smits notes. It all fits into Thermo Fisher’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Key to Thermo Fisher’s future growth in the Netherlands is its relationship with the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency and Invest in Holland partner Brabant Development Agency (BOM) in the province of Brabant. The Invest in Holland network helps Thermo Fisher by providing extensive knowledge in areas like energy management and technological innovation, while also supporting the company’s relationship with the Dutch government and business community.
As a case in point, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade Reinette Klever visited the Thermo Fisher’s Eindhoven location in 2024 to witness its electron microscopy innovation first-hand. A subsequent LinkedIn post shared by the company speaks volumes about how Thermo Fisher sees its current role – and bright future – in the Netherlands: “From new treatments for infectious diseases and cancer to advancing semiconductor technology, our colleagues and the scientific instruments they manufacture are at the forefront of innovation. We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase our contributions to the growing innovation economy in the Netherlands.”
