Events

Pioneers in Healthcare Award ceremony 2025: Innovations that shape the healthcare of tomorrow

Almelo, 19 January 2026 

Innovation is the key to the healthcare of the future. This was once again demonstrated during the 12^th Pioneers in Health Care (PIHC) Award ceremony. At the Asito Stadium in Almelo, ten promising research proposals were awarded a €60,000 voucher. This contribution allows researchers to further develop groundbreaking technologies and projects—innovations that improve patient care and make healthcare more patient-friendly.
The event is a valuable and unique collaboration between Medisch Spectrum Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, the University of Twente, Deventer Hospital, and ZGT.

Collaboration for the future of healthcare
The PIHC vouchers recognize not only innovation but also the power of collaboration between healthcare providers, scientists, knowledge institutions, and technological experts. This combined effort enables the development of new technologies and their implementation in healthcare practice where they have the greatest impact: with the patient.

Ten Projects: From Healthy Lifestyle to Smart Technology
From the many submitted research proposals, 10 projects were selected. These projects include the use of a smart chatbot to promote a healthy lifestyle, an advanced system for measuring cream dosage based on skin surface area, and a guidance system to motivate patients to exercise for faster recovery.

Two ongoing PIHC projects gave attendees a glimpse into their current research. Dr. Ewout Kouwenhoven, surgical oncologist at ZGT, explained how he uses smart data to predict potential complications after esophageal surgery. Dr. Anique Bellos-Grob, a technical physician at ZGT and assistant professor at the University of Twente, demonstrated the results of her research on a special tilting MRI scanner. This scanner can be used to better determine which type of mesh is suitable for patients with rectal prolapse.

Creating the healthcare of the future
Hilde Dijstelbloem, Chair of the ZGT Executive Board: “These studies not only generate knowledge, but also practical applications that transform healthcare. The PIHC vouchers are crucial because they provide researchers and healthcare professionals with the means to actually implement innovations. This is how we create the healthcare of the future: by collaborating, thinking ahead, and, above all, by continuing to pioneer.” 

We are delighted to invite you to the 12th Award Ceremony of the Pioneers in Healthcare (PIHC) Innovation fund, taking place Monday 19 January 2026 from 17.00 until 21.00, at Asito Stadion in Almelo, hosted by ZGT. On this evening, 10 ‘Technological pioneering in healthcare’ and ‘Applying technology in healthcare’ vouchers will be awarded.

The PIHC Innovation Fund pioneers both by developing new technology for clinical problems, and by exploring the possibilities to use existing technology for new medical applications.

Both routes act on the cutting edge of care and technology. The solution of a clinically relevant problem can be achieved through collaboration between technical researchers at the University of Twente and Saxion, and clinicians from Medisch Spectrum Twente, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente and Deventer hospital.

programme  

Location

Asito Stadion, Van Riemsdijkplein 1, 7606 JA Almelo
Plan your route via Google maps. 

Parking at Asito Stadion Almelo
For detailed information regarding parking: Parkeren - Heracles Almelo

Registration
The registration for the PIHC2025 Award ceremony has passed. If you would like to participate, please the contact the program office via pihc-fund@utwente.nl. We will inform you if we have a place for you of if you will be put on the waitlist. 

Every project year, Pioneers in Health Care organizes two events. In September, we kick off the new Call for proposals with a Matchmaking event organised at the UT. The evening offers researchers from Saxion and the UT and clinicians from MST, ZGT and Deventer hospital the chance to find a match for their PIHC proposal and to learn about what the PIHC Innovation fund has to offer. During the meeting, roughly from 17.15 till 20.15, researcher who have been awarded a PIHC voucher in previous years will present their first results and they will give the attendees tips on finding partners, writing the application and starting the project, in order to learn from each other.
The second part of the evening is dedicated to 'Eating and meeting', during which the participants can ask each other: what expertise can you offer, and what are you looking for? In short, it is a very suitable event ot find your match for a PIHC proposal, get to know people, or catch up with existing contacts. 

In January, we host the PIHC Award ceremony, alternately organized by MST, ZGT, Saxion and Deventer Hospital. During this festive evening, we will first hear inspiring presentations of PIHC projects from previous years. After dinner, we will proceed to awarding the 10 ‘Technological pioneering in healthcare’ and ‘Applying technology in healthcare’ vouchers to the applicants who are anxiously waiting in the audience. The recipients of a voucher will give a short pitch in which they highlight how they expect that specific technology can contribute to solving very diverse clinical challenges.