Announced investments highlight the importance of innovation for future-proof healthcare

The Dutch Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) will invest €102.5 million in medical technology through 2036. Private-sector partners are expected to match this investment with at least an equivalent amount.

This was announced during the national MedTech 2035 Conference in The Hague. According to the Dutch government, technology has the potential to strengthen both the economy and the healthcare system in a structural way. On the one hand, the MedTech sector represents a promising growth market for the Dutch economy. On the other, medical technology offers solutions to help keep the healthcare system sustainable.

The public-private investment follows the MedTech Growth Plan, which forms part of the Wennink Report. The government's ambition extends beyond this investment: it aims to work with the sector to build a single, integrated MedTech ecosystem. This ecosystem will bring together start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), knowledge institutions, technical universities, healthcare providers and large companies. The government's role is primarily to create the conditions that enable the ecosystem to thrive, including appropriate legislation and regulation, healthcare implementation, data infrastructure and AI.

The investment focuses on three strategic initiatives (or 'action lines') to accelerate the growth of the Dutch MedTech ecosystem:

• National vision and governance

• AI- and robotics-enabled image-guided therapies

• Hospitals of the future

Medical Delta's response

The announced investment in the Dutch MedTech sector underscores the growing importance of innovation in building a future-proof healthcare system. The government's approach focuses on strengthening the entire innovation ecosystem, with an emphasis on collaboration between public and private partners. This collaboration is essential for translating knowledge into real societal impact.

At Medical Delta, we see every day that successful innovation depends on close collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, businesses, governments and end users. Only by integrating innovation and implementation from the outset can new solutions truly contribute to better healthcare. The announced focus on valorisation and scaling up aligns well with the key challenges facing the sector.

At the same time, it is important to look beyond the hospital itself, as reflected in the plans for the "Hospital of the Future." Increasingly, care is being delivered in the community, at home and in preventive settings. These are also areas where technology and innovation can make a significant contribution.

The announced investments provide an opportunity to further strengthen the Netherlands' leading position in health and technology. We look forward to seeing the plans take shape and remain committed to fostering collaboration that delivers lasting impact on health and healthcare.

Read also (in Dutch):

Kabinet trekt € 102,5 miljoen uit voor versterking Nederlandse MedTech-sector | Rijksoverheid.nl
Kabinet pompt ruim 100 miljoen in Nederlandse MedTech-sector | BNR Nieuwsradio
Kabinet investeert ruim €102 miljoen in MedTech | ICT&health