Jeroen Kiers – Managing Director, InnoGI Technologies
A peek into the lab of scale-up InnoGI Technologies feels like a glimpse into the future of food and pharmaceuticals. And the great thing is... that future has already begun. Here, scientists and technicians are working on groundbreaking research that is fundamentally changing the way we develop medicines and nutrition.
Jeroen Kiers - Managing Director
Revolutionary technology is being developed at the TU Delft Campus that helps test drugs faster, better and more sustainably. Managing Director Jeroen Kiers speaks with great enthusiasm about his mission: improving health through nutrition and smart technology. “My internship supervisor was one of the inventors of the first version of our gastrointestinal model at the time. Later, I operated the model myself and used it many times during my career in the industry. The fact that I’m now managing it, is just fantastic.”
You’re doing something that almost nobody else can. What’s the core of your technology?
“We do contract research for pharmaceutical and food companies. The core purpose? We simulate human and animal gastrointestinal tracts. Not on paper, but physically, with glass, pumps and software. Everything is set just right – acidity, temperature, enzymes, even peristalsis. This allows us to predict with extreme accuracy how an ingredient or drug will behave in the body, helping pharmaceutical and food companies make important choices in their development programs.”
That sounds like science fiction. But it actually happens here, right?
“Yes, that’s the beauty of it. Our technology – called TIM – includes the most advanced ‘in vitro’ models in the world. It’s an extremely close approximation of reality. One of our models is even registered with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The best evidence of its reliability!”
And you also replace animal testing?
“Partly, yes. We cannot test everything, but when it comes to bioavailability, the amount of a substance that ends up in your blood, we are a strong alternative. So strong, in fact, that for instance a large pharmaceutical company has now closed its dog kennels because they use our technology.”
Where do you see the greatest opportunities in your business in the coming years?
“There’s a massive demand for research in alternatives to animal and human testing for new and improved drugs and other active ingredients. What’s more, we are seeing growth in the development and application of alternative proteins in food, and we are able to determine accurately how well they are absorbed by the body. Furthermore, there is an increasing focus on the role of intestinal microbiota in promoting health. We also have a model for that, which we can use to determine, for example, the effect of our intestinal bacteria on medication, and vice versa.”
Innovation seems to be in your DNA. What else is on the horizon?
“Absolutely. We now have physical models that simulate different parts of the digestive tract and a software platform that accurately predicts how much and how quickly a drug or ingredient enters your bloodstream. We are constantly developing our platform. Our goal? That all future high-quality oral drugs and nutritionals are developed using our technology.”
Where do you want to go with InnoGI?
“We are on the verge of significant growth. We want to reach more companies with our technology, especially in the U.S., because that’s where a lot is happening in the life sciences industry. At the same time, we also want to maintain broad horizons, with opportunities in Asia and expansion among European companies. I see us as a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered. We already work for top clients, but there is big potential still out there.”
There can be no growth without challenges. What do you see as the biggest obstacle to realizing your growth ambitions?
“Legislation. It’s lagging behind and is holding back our technology from really taking off. For example, animal testing is still mandatory in many cases, while our models are often more reliable. Fortunately, there are more and more companies and organizations that are working together to change this.”
What kind of people work here?
“A nice mix of no less than ten nationalities! From big brains to lab whizzes and commercial talents. All of them creative, proactive and cooperative. There are almost 30 of us – pretty much 50/50 men-women – averaging 35 years old. And everyone has their own strengths. We have lunch together and because we come from all over the world, there’s regularly something special on the table. It really is an open and warm atmosphere.”
Meaningful work is high on the wish list of many professionals. Why would you want to work at InnoGI?
“Because here you work on technology that matters. We combine cutting-edge science with the atmosphere of a small, close-knit team. Not a cumbersome corporate, but a place where your ideas count. I’ve been fascinated by improving health through nutrition for thirty years. And this technology really makes a difference for health, animal welfare and for the future.”
Want to take the next step? .
Photographer: Jasper Hof
[Published: April 2025]
