Minister Rianne Letschert visits Twente: education and science as drivers of the hospital of the future

Monday 30 March 2026

On Monday, 30 March 2026, Minister Rianne Letschert (Education, Culture and Science) paid a working visit to the University of Twente. At the TechMed Centre, she met with researchers and regional partners to discuss the crucial role of education and science in transforming healthcare.

The visit focused strongly on research and science. In Twente, new healthcare concepts are being developed on a scientific foundation: from technical medicine to medical technology, and from imaging, chip technology and data to robotics. This knowledge underpins the so-called hospital of the future, where technology helps address the growing demand for care and the increasing shortage of healthcare staff.

Minister Letschert indicated that she was impressed by the potential of Twente’s research and innovation-driven knowledge development to address major societal challenges in healthcare.

A living lab for the healthcare of tomorrow

The TechMed Centre functions as a living lab. Here, new technologies are not only developed but also tested and implemented. In close collaboration with partners such as Medisch Spectrum Twente, companies and regional stakeholders, healthcare processes are being redesigned to deliver better care with fewer people.

During the visit, the minister was introduced to examples of ongoing research, including home monitoring via apps, organ-on-a-chip technology and new imaging techniques within women’s health. These projects demonstrate how science can directly contribute to more efficient and patient-centred care.

Next steps: healthcare practice and scaling

The visit by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science marks a first step. At a later stage, coordination will follow with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), focusing on healthcare practice and national scaling, and with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), to further strengthen the economic value of these innovations in international markets.

The Twente approach demonstrates how education, research and regional collaboration together lay the foundation for the healthcare of the future, in Twente and far beyond.

Three examples

During the minister’s visit, several examples were presented of scientific projects developed in close collaboration with partners:

Home monitoring and e-health (research by Monique Tabak)
Through e-health, patients are monitored and supported remotely, allowing care to be better tailored and organised more efficiently through task redistribution and telemonitoring. For children with asthma at Medisch Spectrum Twente, this led to fewer hospital admissions, improved outcomes, better self-management, and higher satisfaction among both parents and children.
Organ-on-a-chip (research by Robert Passier)
Miniature models of organs make it possible to test diseases and treatments in the lab. This accelerates research and offers opportunities to tailor medicines more effectively to specific patient groups.
Imaging breastfeeding (research by Nienke Bosschaart)
Within the Women’s Health programme, Nienke Bosschaart develops non-invasive techniques to better measure and understand breastfeeding. This enables earlier detection of issues and more targeted support, leading to more efficient care and preventing unnecessary interventions.

These examples illustrate how Twente is developing new care pathways that are more efficient, patient-centred and technology-driven. The TechMed Centre acts as a testing ground where innovations are developed, validated and scaled up in practice.

Tags: health medtech

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