Holomicrobiome - Amsterdam Green Campus

29 Jul Holomicrobiome

Posted at 11:01h in Ongoing project by AGC general

Project: Holomicrobiome Innovation Institute: Educating the Holomicrobiome Human Capital

Explanation

Microbiomes are heterogeneous communities of billions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that, without us being aware of it, have a major influence on the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. Our gut flora is the best-known example, but microbiomes are everywhere: on our skin, in the soil, in water, in plants and animals. Together, they form a microbiological ocean that surrounds us: the holomicrobiome.

In recent years, scientists have become capable of mapping the composition, functions, and effects of microbiomes. This research is leading to a wide range of promising applications, varying from circular agriculture, sustainable livestock farming, and healthier nutrition to reducing harmful emissions, improving water quality, and developing new methods for medical diagnostics and treatment. Moreover, these innovative microbiome applications offer significant economic potential and can unlock global markets worth billions of euros that are currently largely dominated by chemical solutions.

On the eve of this microbiome revolution, the Netherlands ranks among the world's scientific leaders. Through the National Growth Fund, the Dutch government has made €200 million available for the establishment of the Holomicrobiome Innovation Institute. This institute brings together fundamental microbiome research from all parts of the holomicrobiome, stimulates collaboration between disciplines, and focuses on translating knowledge into societal and economic impact.

“The future is not just about studying microbes. It is about translating what we learn into tools, technologies, and services that change the way we live.”

Jan Sikkema
Managing Director, Holomicrobiome Innovation Institute

The institute is building a joint platform where experts in the fields of soil, plants, animals, water, and humans collaborate on issues that are too large for a single organization or discipline. To this end, an integrated approach has been developed, based on four interconnected pillars: Data, Accelerate, Transform and Academy.

With the help of artificial intelligence, the works Data pillar working on understanding, modeling, and predicting microbiomes. This knowledge brings new applications closer, but before they can be widely deployed, their effectiveness and safety must be carefully demonstrated. This is done within the Accelerate pillar.

However, complex societal challenges can only be solved through collaboration. Therefore, the Transform pillar the collaboration between knowledge institutions, companies, governments, and other civil society organizations in the Netherlands. This creates a flywheel that accelerates the development of innovative, effective, and safe microbiome products.

Finally, lasting innovation is only possible when there is continuous investment in learning, talent development, and people who can build bridges between disciplines and sectors. That is the role of the Academy pillar, which is coordinated by Amsterdam Green Campus and the University of Amsterdam, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Stanley Brul.

Approach

As part of the Academy pillar We design and develop various forms of education to train, attract, and further develop national and international talent. In addition, we ensure that knowledge is sustainably retained within the rapidly growing microbiome sector. In this regard, a strong cross-domain approach central. In this way, these educational programs contribute to strengthening and expanding a sustainable innovation ecosystem around the holomicrobiome.

To achieve this, we follow an approach with three key priorities:

Development of a national Master's track 'Microbiomes and Applications'‘, in which students are trained in the structure, functions, and interactions of microbiomes, both within and between traditional disciplines. In doing so, they develop an integrated, holomicrobiome-oriented perspective and contribute to strengthening human capital for the growing sector of companies developing microbiome applications.
Collaboration with the universities of applied sciences and MBO institutions within CoE Groen to develop an internship- and project-oriented educational program. In this program, issues from the business world are linked to the talent of the future. Students work with the latest knowledge about microbiomes on practical challenges and solutions for companies.
Joint development of Lifelong Learning (LLL) courses with our industrial and societal partners. These courses are intended for professionals who wish to continuously update and deepen their knowledge, enabling them to respond to the rapidly advancing developments within the cross-domain microbiome innovation ecosystem.

Expected results

In the period 2026–2027 We focus on building the knowledge base, connecting stakeholders, and creating the initial structures for the future implementation of education. In addition to these strategic activities, there is room for bottom-up experiments and rapid educational innovation. In this way, we involve our partners – from knowledge institutions and university medical centers to TO2 institutes, civil society organizations, and companies – to test ideas at an early stage and translate new needs directly into educational practice.

In 2027–2028 the focus shifts to translating the strategy into concrete educational products, implementation structures, and the preparation for the nationwide rollout of the Mastertrack and the Lifelong Learning (LLL) courses, in collaboration with CoE Green. In this phase as well, there remains room for experimentation and bottom-up innovation from involved partners. Small-scale, seed-funded initiatives give teachers, researchers, Living Labs, and external stakeholders the opportunity to quickly develop and test new educational ideas. In doing so, we also strengthen ownership within the innovation ecosystem.

Mid-2028 is everything ready for the start of the first Mastertrack pilots. In these pilots, the new educational modules are tested in a realistic educational environment. Students from higher professional education (HBO) and university education (WO) collaborate across institutional boundaries and are directly linked to Living Labs and practical challenges from the business sector. The pilots offer the opportunity to further refine the program before it is rolled out nationwide.

HOLO microbiome workshop

Which skills are needed? Which topics should not be missing? And which forms of education best prepare the professionals of the future? Amsterdam Green Campus organized a workshop in which we started developing the recipe for future-proof holomicrobiome education together.

The aftermovie gives an impression of the energy, conversations, and creativity that came together during this process. But the recipe is not yet complete.

In the coming period, we will build upon this within Pillar 4 – Education & Human Capital Development. We are translating the ideas into concrete steps to further strengthen education within this emerging field.