On 24 April 2025, World Laboratory Animal Day, the Proefdiervrij Event will take place at CORPUS. This is the event where companies, scientists and investors come together not only to talk about animal-free innovation, but to actually put it into practice. The models are there – now it is time for the next step: wide use and implementation. Unlock your potential and join us in taking the next step towards an animal-free future. Your role in this transition starts here. We’re only going UP!
Here’s why you need to be there
Animal-free innovation is not only necessary, but also an opportunity you should embrace now. For instance, innovative technologies such as organ-on-a-chip and human cell culture not only deliver more reliable research results, but also enable cost savings and faster turnaround times. At this event, you will have the chance to interact with startups and scientists who are already successfully deploying these innovations. Find out how you can contribute to the movement to make animal testing permanently obsolete.
The program & location
The Proefdiervrij Event 2025 will take place at CORPUS, an interactive museum in Oegstgeest (near Leiden) that revolves around the human body. So for us the ideal place to show how animal-free innovations are not only more ethical for animals, but also essential for better, human-centred research methods. This is where it becomes directly visible why the future of research should and can be animal-free!
This event is all about action: not just talking about innovation, but working towards the next step – implementation and wide use of animal-free technologies. During the event, you can expect the following programme elements:
- Keynotes & expert sessions on the latest animal-free innovations and how companies and scientists are making the transition.
- Networking opportunities to engage directly with companies, researchers and investors.
- The presentation of the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge 2025 – find out which startup will make a difference in the world of animal-free technologies
[Important: The final programme will be communicated on this page and via our socials such as LinkedIn at the end of March].
Who is the event for?
- Companies looking to future-proof innovation and differentiate themselves with animal-free technologies.
- Scientists & start-ups who want to translate their research into concrete applications and connect with companies.
- Investors & policymakers who want to contribute to a growing market without animal testing.
- Students who want to explore a career in animal-free innovation and connect with professionals in the field.
The award ceremony of the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge
This year we are celebrating an anniversary year: the fifth edition of the Proefdiervrij Venture Challenge! Four promising teams have spent the past three months working on the business skills they need to successfully bring their test-animal-free innovations to market.
The 2025 teams are:
- Nydus R&D: develops innovative brain models that replace animal testing for neuroscience research.
- HeartSmart: creates an advanced platform to test heart medication without animal testing.
- 2ndB: builds brain-on-a-chip technology for more reliable studies of brain disorders.
- BioGrid: makes organ-on-chip technologies more accessible and affordable for wider applications.
The final part of the programme is a pitch during the Proefdiervrij Event, after which the winning team will receive a prize of €25,000 to take their company forward. Don’t miss out!
