DSM, Universiteit Maastricht (UM) and academic hospital Maastricht (azM) have entered into a strategic agreement for joint research and development projects. The first concrete project, Bioterials, will result in new heart and vascular disease treatments on the basis of biomaterials. Biomaterials focus on non-human materials for the recovery and support of bodily functions. Application examples are biopolymer, tissue engineering (artificial creation of human tissue) and orthopaedic implants.

The partners will do the research in the field of biomaterials in three directions:

The first research will be in the development of a new implant. A special type of medicine powers the implant. After implanting, the medicine will be slowly distributed by the heart muscle. In this way, a patient's heart rhythm can be regulated carefully. Because of the implant, the side effects of the medicine decrease and the effectiveness increases.

The second project focuses on the controlled emission of a medicine/remedy to, locally, stimulate the creation of new blood vessels. The reason is to check whether the circulation of blood to the limbs can be improved. This is important for diabetes patients who often have trouble in this area.

The third research focuses on new materials that, when in contact with blood, give no cause for coagulation of the blood. There is great need for these materials, especially when blood is in long-term contact with strange material, for example when a patient is in need of a long treatment in a heart-lung machine. This research anticipates the need from the medical world to use hart-lung machines for longer periods in the treatment of patients.

With this cooperation in the area of Bioterials, DSM, UM and azM contribute to the enforcement of biomedical activities in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands. The Dutch government and the province of Limburg will contribute a combined EUR 1.5 million for this regional initiative. Total project costs will amount to EUR 2.5 million, divided over four years.

Jan Zuidam, vice-chairman of the Managing Board of DSM, is pleased with this cooperation: "Innovation is crucial to DSM. Bioterials are an interesting development in that respect. This agreement is a good example of public-private partnership to strengthen the knowledge economy. Additionally, it is a stimulus for the further development of our performance materials activities on the R&D campus in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands."

"Universiteit Maastricht is known for providing a top quality education. To guarantee this for the future, it is important to strengthen our research base. This strategic cooperation with azM and DSM is therefore very important" , according to President of the UM Executive Board Jo Ritzen.

President of the azM Executive Board, Guy Peeters: "The results of this cooperation will directly benefit patient care. This is also an example of the new role azM plays as an innovative institution as set out in our strategic reorientation policy azMove."