Founded in San Diego in 2006, contract research organization (CRO) Crown Bioscience helps pharmaceutical and biotech innovators around the world get one step closer to personalized cancer treatment by removing the guesswork from their research & development. The oncology-focused company operates 11 research centers worldwide, with the Netherlands serving as one of its central R&D locations in Europe. From its growing hub at Leiden Bio Science Park, the company is advancing in vitro oncology research, screening new therapies and applying next-generation organoid models to fuel breakthrough discoveries.
“Leiden emerged as the perfect intersection of location and opportunity,” says Bram Herpers, site lead for the company. “Post-Brexit, we needed an EU base for shipping and research, but what we found was so much more: a thriving ecosystem of organoid technology, research talent and partners who share our mission.”
A strategic move to Europe’s connected life sciences & health metropolis
Crown Bioscience’s decision to expand into the Netherlands was originally driven by logistics. With the U.K. no longer part of the EU, the company needed a new hub to support seamless trade and distribution across Europe. The Netherlands stood out immediately for its central location, world-class infrastructure, strong regulatory environment and expertise in supply chain solutions.
But it was the scientific ecosystem – especially the country’s leadership in organoid research – that sealed the deal. Crown Bioscience recognized profound potential for growth and innovation in the Netherlands, Europe’s leading life sciences & health metropolis and a global driver of oncology research and clinical trials.
“The Netherlands offers immediate access to some of the world’s top experts and institutions in organoid technology,” says Herpers. “We were especially drawn to the strategic opportunity that the region presented, with its role in advancing patient-derived models that could transform preclinical drug testing.”
Having forged a successful partnership with Utrecht-based HUB Organoids (recently acquired by Merck), Crown Bioscience’s Leiden team now manages more than 850 organoid models based on patient-derived xenografts. The company also works under a licensing agreement to apply HUB Organoids’ technology in commercial oncology testing.
The Crown Bioscience team in Leiden
Anchored at Leiden Bio Science Park
Crown Bioscience is doing more than shipping samples from the Netherlands. The Leiden site serves as a central R&D engine for developing innovative assays and refining high-throughput screening methods. Staffed by 58 full-time employees, Crown Bioscience Netherlands is home to high-content imaging, advanced in vitro oncology research and a growing number of collaborative projects. The team actively participates in six Dutch and EU research grants, further strengthening ties with Europe’s life sciences community.
“Leiden Bio Science Park has been an ideal home,” Herpers says. “We benefit from a dense network of research institutions, a highly educated workforce and a culture that supports discovery and innovation.”
The company uses modern hiring techniques to source talent, including the Leiden Bio Science Park career portal, while working with recruitment agencies to fill critical gaps. About seven international interns work with the Leiden team each year – many of whom transition into full-time roles at the company.
Collaborating to improve cancer outcomes
The Netherlands’ ability to cultivate quadruple helix collaboration in life sciences & health is a major asset for Crown Bioscience. Through partnerships with Dutch research organizations, universities and other life sciences companies, Crown Bioscience is accelerating the development of cancer treatments with more predictive preclinical tools.
This collaborative spirit aligns closely with the company’s broader mission: to empower customers to improve human health by delivering scientific excellence, operational quality and transformative innovation. At every level, the goal is to make personalized medicine a reality.
Organoid image, ©Crown Bioscience
Sustainability in action
Innovation at Crown Bioscience goes beyond scientific discovery – it includes a deep commitment to sustainability. The company’s Dutch site is home to an active Green Team and recently achieved Green Lab certification with an 81% score through the My Green Lab assessment. The team continues to implement energy-saving strategies, lab waste reduction programs and sustainable sourcing initiatives.
As part of Japan-based JSR Life Sciences, Crown Bioscience is guided by values that prioritize environmental responsibility and ethical research practices. “The Netherlands’ national focus on sustainability fits us perfectly,” says Herpers. “We’re proud to contribute to a more responsible research ecosystem.”
Looking ahead
Crown Bioscience is focused on strengthening its existing operations in the Netherlands, leveraging its Dutch presence as a key hub in the company’s global research network. With increasing demand for oncology drug development tools, access to a strong talent pipeline and a thriving innovation ecosystem, the company is well-positioned for sustained growth.
“Our vision is a world where innovative therapies reach patients swiftly and effectively,” concludes Herpers. “Our presence in the Netherlands accelerates our progress toward that ambition.”
