MedTech sector launches national growth plan: technology must support Dutch healthcare and structurally strengthen economic growth

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“Technological innovation isn’t a luxury, but a sheer necessity. Only with smart, scalable solutions can we keep healthcare accessible, affordable, and high-quality. As the director of a large university medical center (UMC), I see every day how urgent it is to connect technology, data, and medical expertise with clinical practice. This accelerates innovation where it matters most: with the patient. But it’s about more than just healthcare. If the Netherlands strengthens this ecosystem properly now, we will not only take a step towards better healthcare, but we will also increase our strategic strength as a competitive MedTech nation within Europe,” says Stefan Sleijfer, chair and dean of the Executive Board of Erasmus MC.

According to Carina Hilders, chair of the Executive Board of UMC Utrecht, the patient is central to the use of medical technology: “Good care must remain accessible to patients in the future. This requires medical technology that supports healthcare professionals and makes care more precise and better, especially at a time when the demand for healthcare is growing while the number of healthcare providers is not keeping pace. MedTech is therefore essential for the resilience of our healthcare system and society.” That’s why it’s so important that these innovations are developed close to clinical practice. As an academic hospital, we work with public and private partners to bring new healthcare technologies to patient applications as quickly as possible.

“Peter Wennink emphasizes in his report the essential preconditions for future prosperity. Innovation in healthcare is undeniably part of this – only then can we maintain our world-class healthcare. The Netherlands has the brains and the makers: from smart technology to implementation power. Make the healthcare sector a launch customer, and – the Ministries of Health and Sport and Economic Affairs – develop a joint innovation agenda. Don’t view innovation in healthcare as a cost item, but as an investment that improves care, capitalizes on knowledge, and strengthens our economy,” says Marjoleine van der Zwan, managing director of TNO.

“Innovation often comes from startups and scaleups. In the field of MedTech, the chain from idea to startup to scaleup is inadequate, resulting in too little innovation reaching the market. “Through more intensive collaboration between knowledge institutions, venture builders, entrepreneurs, companies, hospitals, and investors, we can significantly improve the healthcare system and make the Netherlands an innovative leader in Medical Technology,” says John Bell, CEO of HighTech XL.

“The central idea of ​​the plan is that Dutch healthcare needs to undergo a transformation to remain future-proof, and that technology must provide important support for both healthcare professionals and patients. Systems thinking is crucial to make healthcare more people-focused and efficient, and to scale innovations more quickly and effectively towards market introduction and application in daily practice. Only in this way can we, as a society, reduce our healthcare costs, increase our labor participation, and transfer more control to the patient,” says Prof. Dr. Ir. Maaike Kleinsmann, Program Chair Campus Rotterdam, and Medical Delta Professor in Design for Digital Transformation, TU Delft.”

Strong medical technology means better care for people and strengthens the Netherlands’ earning capacity. This Investment Plan demonstrates the preconditions needed to scale up innovations. “This is only possible if we involve the entire ecosystem, from SMEs and startups to healthcare institutions and government, and if we now accelerate implementation,” says Theo Henrar, chairman of FME.

Utrecht Science Park

UMC Utrecht has actively contributed to this growth plan and endorses the broader health agenda outlined in the Wennink report, which identifies life sciences and biotechnology as strategic domains for the Netherlands. Located at Utrecht Science Park, UMC Utrecht is part of a leading Life Sciences and Health ecosystem, with collaborations between public and private partners. At Utrecht Science Park, healthcare, research, data, talent, and education converge. This unique combination, combined with the power we possess as the largest science park in the Netherlands, with 31,000 employees and 55,000 students, enables us to bring innovations in MedTech and Biotech to patients faster. This creates both an economic and social impact.