Colja Laane
Director
Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI)
Colja Laane has been appointed the new Director of the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI) as of 1 April 2008. He has extensive experience in the life sciences sector, both in the area of academic research and the corporate world. Having first obtained his doctorate in biochemistry at Wageningen University, Laane embarks on a scientific career that includes tenures at the University of Berkeley (US) and Wageningen University. In 1986, he opted for the business world: first at Unilever Research in Vlaardingen, followed by a position as Director of Bioscience Research at Quest International in Naarden in 1990. After a five year period, he returned to the academic world, holding a position as professor of biochemistry at Wageningen Univeristy from 1995 to 2000. Laane combined this position with entrepreneurship in his capacity as director of T&E Product Development. In 2000, he took up a position at DSM Food Specialties in Delft, followed by his appointment as Science Director at DSM in 2007.
Laane, on his challenge at the Netherlands Genomics Initiative: “Over the coming period, the emphasis will be: from Thesis to Product”
Since the start of his career, Colja Laane has been active in a wide range of national and international committees, (sectoral) organisations and (scientific) advisory boards. Amongst other positions, he is currently chairman of the Industrial Biotechnology department of the European Technology Platform Sustainable Chemistry, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences, board member of biotechnology sectoral organisation NIABA, chairman of the Executive Board at the ACTS platform, member of the advisory board at the German CLIB2021 (Cluster Industrial Biotechnology) and member of the steering committee on Bio-based Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries.
