Healthcare Innovation Square

Tuesday 11 August 2026

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.

From start to impact

The project has been running for about a year now, with the first case studies in progress. The current focus is on practical application. ‘We are building on the foundation laid over the past year,’ Bekhuis explains. ‘The first innovations are in the development and testing phase and will increasingly find their way into practice over the coming year.’ At the same time, the network is being strengthened, and awareness of the initiative is growing. ‘We want to be the initiative where healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, residents, and researchers bring their questions and ideas,’ says Makkink.

Strength of the region

According to Makkink and Bekhuis, regional collaboration is crucial. ‘We operate in a compact region with short lines of communication and highly engaged partners,’ Bekhuis says. ‘That makes it possible to act quickly and tackle healthcare challenges together.’ As a result, new connections and initiatives emerge almost organically within the Healthcare Innovation Square. ‘That regional strength, combined with a strong focus on implementation and scaling up, is what sets us apart,’ the project leaders emphasise.