Under the name Healthcare Innovation Square, regional parties, including the TechMed Centre, healthcare organisations, knowledge partners and companies, join forces to bring medical technological innovations to practice faster.
How can healthcare remain accessible without compromising quality? According to project leaders Marloes Makof kink (project manager eHealth UT) and Robin Bekhuis (innovation advisor at ZGT), a large part of the solution lies in the smart use of technology, combined with the redesign of care processes. ‘Technology is not an end in itself,’ they stress. ‘What matters are innovations that genuinely contribute to better care for patients and workable solutions for professionals.’
Since 1 January 2025, the partners have been working together in the three-year project Healthcare Innovation Square (Zorg Innovatie Plein). The initiative accelerates the journey from idea to implementation. ‘Our strength lies in connecting stakeholders, identifying needs from practice, supporting implementation and scaling up, and making societal impact visible,’ the project leaders explain. The TechMed Centre plays a key role as both partner and connector.
Chronic conditions
The Healthcare Innovation Square initially focuses on the four most common chronic conditions in the region of Twente and Salland: type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, dementia, and cardiovascular disease. Technology can, for example, increase self-reliance, organise care more efficiently, or detect problems at an early stage.
‘Several case studies are currently under development,’ says Makkink. ‘One example is an adapted toothbrush for people with osteoarthritis, which supports hand exercises. Another is a smart bathmat that detects temperature differences in the feet of diabetes patients, enabling pressure points or wounds to be identified earlier.’
Which innovations are taken forward depends on concrete questions from practice. ‘We always start with a problem that has real urgency,’ Bekhuis says. ‘That is where the greatest potential impact lies.’ They see particular opportunities in primary care and prevention.
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