Once again, the Pioneers in Health Care (PIHC) innovation fund has awarded €660,000 to research projects in the eastern Netherlands. The purpose of this innovation fund – a joint venture of University of Twente, Saxion, Medical Spectrum Twente, Deventer Hospital and Ziekenhuisgroep Twente – is to encourage long-term partnerships between the world of new technologies and current medical practice. Reggeborgh has once again made a contribution to give a positive impulse to regional healthcare. The main aim is to apply new technologies in healthcare that will lead to better, more patient-friendly care.

Last week, we were saddened to see the revelations about inappropriate sexual behaviour in The Voice of Holland. It was a painful insight into what happens behind the scenes of one of the Netherlands’ largest television programmes. The stories that were exposed by the programme #BOOS are not unique to the media sector: it is a widespread social problem that also occurs in the academic community. Also at the University of Twente. We find this unacceptable.

Shaping sustainable business models, in which companies create a positive impact on a social, ecological and economic level, is possible in all sectors. From agriculture to electrical consumer goods, from large to small and from start-ups to existing companies. Within the NWO research programme 'Sustainable Business Models', eight consortia of scientists and companies - including the University of Twente - conducted research into sustainable business models and their implementation. The research shows that there is a great deal of potential for sustainable business management and that the form of cooperation with other parties may be decisive. The optimal strategy for cooperation is highly dependent on the size and the specific value proposition of the company concerned. In a joint final publication, the researchers describe the results and insights from the research.

Scientific Director of the Technical Medical Centre, Prof Dr Nico Verdonschot has been appointed as Scientific Director of MedTechNL. With this appointment, Nico will step down as Scientific Director of the TechMed Centre, which he has headed for the past four years.