“Actually, I’d never really given much thought to cows.” This was the opening gambit in the interview with Erik Staijen, co-founder of the Blue4Green company, and an Electrical Engineering alumnus of the University of Twente. Blue4Green specializes in chips that enable veterinarians to carry out accurate, on-site analyses of blood samples from farm animals. While the company has previously focused mainly on cows, the chip can also be used for other animals. The company is continuing its development work on the chip. This involves extensive cooperation with external parties such as veterinarians, the University of Twente, and Wageningen University and Research centre.
Labs the size of a postage stamp
While studying Electrical Engineering, Erik Staijen spent time at BIOS, the Lab-on-a-Chip department at the University of Twente’s MESA+ research institute. Here he first encountered these chips, which are laboratories the size of a postage stamp or even smaller. This immediately aroused his interest in new applications for this nanotechnology. Mr Staijen comments that “Around the time I graduated I got the idea of starting my own business. I knew little or nothing about marketing and sales, so I really needed a partner.” Erik Staijen got in touch with Daan Sistermans and, after discussing matters at great length, they decided to set up Blue4Green together, as a spin-off of MESA+ and the Medimate company.
That was in 2008. Today, in 2012, business is booming. The first chips are now being used by veterinarians. The Military Boekelo - Enschede (an internationally renowned, annual equestrian sports event) has also expressed an interest in using them. There are also plans to explore various opportunities abroad (throughout Europe and beyond).
“We are the world and we are busy making it a better place”
Blue4Green is a young and innovative company. When you visit their offices, you notice this straight away. They work in an inspiring building. This former spinning mill, which dates from 1911, is now home to about 50 different companies. Blue4Green’s location is not the only stimulating aspect of the company, its offices too are not quite what you might expect. The floor is carpeted with Astroturf, and members of staff can often be seen working on their “golf swing” during the breaks. Instead of rules, the company has values, such as: “Passion for science” and “We are the world and we are busy making it a better place”.
Mr Staijen states that “I think it's important to make a contribution to society. To this end, it is essential to market innovative products. That’s the only way you can really contribute to a better world. In this context, I see profit as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. Our chips help veterinarians to diagnose and treat animals far more quickly than before. As a result, there is also less need for antibiotics. This ensures a healthier food chain, while also delivering animal welfare benefits.”
Global shapers
In addition to the day-to-day duties of running his own company, Erik Staijen has agreed to join 18 other young business people in setting up the “Global Shapers Community”. This is part of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Erik’s special focus within the Global Shapers network involves commercial knowledge transfer. Erik Staijen points out that “Too much scientific knowledge is still just being left on the shelf. For me, the fascination lies in trying to make all these spin-off companies more successful. This will help ensure that knowledge is converted into commercial products, which in turn will boost the Netherlands’ export drive.”
In ten years’ time
Mr Staijen is very positive about the future. “In ten years’ time I’ll still be living in Twente. The mentality of the people in this part of the country really appeals to me. Blue4Green will be a global company by then, and we will have made really great strides in the field of animal welfare.”
