Business Developer Biotech Booster

From lab to business and for society. Support industrial biotech innovation with a hands-on, thoughtful approach—building bridges between science, business, and meaningful change.

Job description

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation in biotechnology?
Join the national Biotech Booster team and help accelerate the impact of cutting-edge research in diagnostics and service biotech. We’re looking for a Business Developer who thrives in a collaborative, international environment and is ready to coach researchers, build partnerships, and drive commercialization.

What is Biotech Booster?
Biotech Booster (www.biotechbooster.nl) is a national program designed to accelerate the societal and economic impact of biotechnology in the Netherlands. It brings together universities, universities of applied sciences, companies, and regional ecosystems to support the development and commercialization of biotech innovations. Operating across five clusters, Biotech Booster acts as a connector and catalyst—facilitating the flow of knowledge, expertise, funding, and opportunities. The program supports early-stage projects through structured development phases, helping researchers and entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into impactful biotech solutions. TU Delft is the central hub for Industrial Biotechnology.

Location: TU Delft on site, with regular travel across the Netherlands
Cluster: Thematic Cluster 1 – Industrial Biotechnology & Production

Your Role
As a Business Developer, you will:

• Scout and guide projects through Level 1 (proof-of-principle) and Level 2  (proof-of-concept) projects of the Biotech Booster program.
• Coach researchers and their teams in engaging with the business and investor world, supporting commercialization and securing funding.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer, including IP protection, licensing, patent management, and spin-off creation.
• Support the organization of activities such as workshops, company visits, and thematic meetings.
• Leverage your network to connect researchers with companies, knowledge institutions, and funding opportunities and collaborate nationally.

Job requirements

• A Master’s degree or PhD in life science or in Business Administration but with proven experience in biotechnology/biochemistry business area.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate technological inventions and concepts.
• Understanding of industrial biotechnology and biochemistry.
• Proven experience (> 3 years) in innovation and business development.
• Excellent communication, relationship and collaboration skills..
• Professional experience in coaching researchers and facilitating commercialization.
• Experience working within research organizations, start-up and/or in multi-stakeholder engagement are a plus.
• Network in the Dutch biotechnology sector, preferably in industrial/food biotechnology and/or (bio)chemistry, is a plus.
• Proficiency in English and Dutch.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

University Corporate Office - Innovation & Impact Centre

You will join the Innovation & Impact Centre (I&IC), which is responsible for valorisation - the university's third core task alongside education and research. We are committed to ensure that the knowledge and technology we develop at TU Delft benefits society. The work at I&IC is diverse and ranges from advising on research funding to setting up large public-private partnerships. We are also engaged in the development of the TU Delft Campus as an innovation ecosystem. We encourage entrepreneurship, (inter)national cooperation and strategic planning in the field of innovation.
Depending on your profile, you will work in the field of research funding (both NL and EU), intellectual property, public affairs, corporate innovations, campus development, projects or innovation affairs. The I&IC is located at the heart of the TU Delft Campus, the vibrant innovation ecosystem that houses almost 300 companies, knowledge institutions, field labs, (pre-)incubators, restaurants and cafés in addition to the university. An inspiring place where you surround yourself daily with students, researchers, entrepreneurs and other innovative minds; all driven by the same mission: impact for a better society.

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 1 year. Temporary external finance
• A job of 32-40 hours per week. 
• A salary based on Scale 11 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €4728 - €6433 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Arnaud Backbier, Head of Industrial Biotechnology Cluster, via A.G.M.Backbier@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 16 August 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Arnaud Backbier. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.