Pioneering HealthTech & MedTech at the University of Twente
Challenges in healthcare demand smarter, more sustainable solutions. Is care always going to be readily available? Staff shortages are increasing every year while the population continues to age. The affordability of care is at risk, especially as chronic conditions continue to grow. And what is climate change doing to our health? New infectious diseases, heat stress and air pollution have a direct impact on our well-being, while healthcare itself has a large ecological footprint. The University of Twente combines education, research and entrepreneurship to develop innovations that support care professionals, prevent illness and personalise treatment. Our goal is to create Healthcare technology that understands people
Integrated Wearables & Biosensors
Smart technology can support healthcare professionals. Data from cutting-edge wearables such as smartwatches and biosensors enables real-time monitoring of vital signs, stress levels and environmental exposures. By collaborating with physiologists and data scientists, we invent preventive solutions to prevent diseases. And we imagine how to translate continuous streams of information into actionable insights that empower both patients and clinicians to make informed decisions.
Personalised Diagnostics & Therapeutics
We conduct interdisciplinary MedTech research in medical imaging, microfluidics and organs-on-chip. This helps us build tools to find disease early and create custom treatments. In our labs, we are making micro-needle patches that measure glucose without pain. We also develop organ-on-chip models to test new drugs safely. And our AI-powered imaging systems can detect subtle biomarkers. All of this moves us closer to care that truly focuses on patient-centred care.
AI & Robotics in Care Delivery
We use artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics at the TechMed Centre to boost accuracy and speed. Within our research groups, you’ll find smart software that plans hospital schedules and improves logistics. We work on social robots that offer friendship in dementia wards. Our aim is simple: we do not want to replace healthcare workers, but give them more time for what truly matters: compassionate human interaction. We want healthcare professionals to care for patients with empathy and attention.
Sustainable & Climate-Resilient Healthcare
Healthcare needs to become more sustainable because hospitals and clinics use a lot of energy and resources. At the University of Twente, we work on greener solutions for a healthier planet. Our research focuses on energy-saving medical devices, recyclable materials for biosensors and building designs that adapt to changing climates. This helps cut down the environmental impact of hospitals. At the same time, we study how heat stress, air pollution and new infections affect people’s health. By doing both, we make sure our HealthTech innovations are good for patients and for the Earth.
The TechMed Centre: MedTech Innovation Hub
The TechMed Centre is our flagship MedTech innovation hub. It is equipped with state-of-the-art labs, preclinical testbeds and simulated hospital environments. We're fast-tracking prototypes into clinical practice and boosting the region’s HealthTech ecosystem. Within the HealthTech domain at UT, we emphasise collaboration. Here, engineers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and policymakers co-create tomorrow’s healthcare technologies. This ensures that technology not only 'works', but is also understood and embraced. Our message? Technology makes healthcare human again.
