Interview about collaboration between Zorginnovatiehub and Medical Delta

Dozens of partners are working on the healthcare of the future at the Zorginnovatiehub. Who are they? They introduce themselves in a series of interviews. This time, it's Marijke Will-Janssen, senior innovation manager at Medical Delta. "The Zorginnovatiehub is a testing ground for collaboration – across interests, domains, and target groups."

This interview was previously posted on the website of Technologie voor thuis. 

When asked about her work as innovation manager at Medical Delta, Marijke says she's working towards a healthier province of Zuid-Holland. "We're a transdisciplinary partnership of universities, universities of applied sciences, and university medical centers. Together with businesses, healthcare institutions, end users, and government agencies in Zuid-Holland, we develop innovative solutions for sustainable healthcare. In doing so, we bridge the gap between science and practice."

The needs of society

Medical Delta's collaboration with the Zorginnovatiehub is no coincidence. The Zorginnovatiehub facilitates something Marijke hasn't always seen work well in practice: the translation of scientific knowledge and innovations into actual implementation and societal impact. "We've also refined our own strategy in response. Not only academic disciplines, but also universities of applied sciences and mbo's, healthcare institutions, government agencies, and businesses participate in our programs and living labs. We bridge the gap between science and healthcare practice. Implementation and societal added value are now more central. Our starting point is the needs of society: patients, municipalities, and healthcare organizations."

"In my role as innovation manager, I critically examine new technologies. Even in the development phase, I ask: what problem does this solve? Because ultimately, we're doing it for healthcare professionals, patients, and residents, and the problems they face."

200 organizations on 30 km²

Connection is crucial. "In Zuid-Holland, there are more than 200 organizations active in healthcare – and all in just 30 km². Can we pool their knowledge and strengths and achieve even more? I see a key role for the Zorginnovatiehub in answering that question. It's a testing ground for collaboration, across interests, domains, and target groups."

"The Zorginnovatiehub essentially does on a small scale what Medical Delta does on a larger scale: stimulating collaboration between research, policy, and practice. But what's special is that the hub has a physical location. Medical Delta works with research programs and living labs, among other things, whose partners are usually not in the same location. The hub truly brings people together under one roof – I find that very powerful. The best ideas can arise from a coincidental encounter at the coffee machine. That kind of informal cross-pollination is incredibly valuable."

Conditions for Success

The Zorginnovatiehub's substantive program also offers many opportunities, Marijke believes. From Medical Delta, she is involved in the working group 'An Innovation Ecosystem'. She contributes to the development of the conditions for a fertile ecosystem, in which all parties can collaborate on innovative solutions.

What is a success factor for this? "A willingness to be transparent and collaborative," she says resolutely. "A fertile ecosystem requires that you dare to be honest about what works and what doesn't. That you are given and take the space to work more efficiently. And that there is a shared intention to achieve something significant."

She continues: "It helps when people have a mandate to actually set something in motion. Think of the signature that we all have put on the Delta Actie Agenda and the Zorginnovatiehub's Work Agenda. It ensures that people feel empowered to say and do things."

Ready for the opening

The working groups are already hard at work on strong collaborations, knowledge sharing, and networking. At the same time, Marijke is eagerly anticipating the opening of the Zorginnovatiehub in 2026. "All the stakeholders will meet there: not only during meetings, but also in the hallways. Here, we will demonstrate that implementing knowledge and innovation is truly possible – even if it sometimes requires perseverance. I'm sure we'll be visiting regularly from Medical Delta's programs and living labs."