The Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) will jointly invest 102.5 million euros in the Dutch MedTech sector through 2036. Private parties will contribute at least the same amount. The government’s goal is to have the strongest MedTech ecosystem in Europe by 2035. This public-private investment is a response to the MedTech Growth Plan, which is part of the Wennink report.
The agreements were announced on July 6 during a working conference attended by two ministers and two directors-general. The government views its role as strengthening the enabling conditions for AI in healthcare, such as appropriate laws and regulations, healthcare implementation, and data and AI infrastructure. We support this plan. The framework conditions it identifies are areas in which we are already active within the Health and Healthcare sector. Here is a selection of our activities from the past few months.
GAI Guidelines and AI Factory
Uncertainty surrounding laws and regulations is hindering the use of generative AI in healthcare. That is why we are collaborating on the GAI guidelines, with substantive input from researchers at UMC Utrecht. The second part has now been approved. The publication, explanatory notes, and practical sessions will follow in the coming months. In the area of data infrastructure, we are working on an overview of foundation models for healthcare. This will clarify what the Netherlands needs and what we can do ourselves to address those needs. For example, through the Dutch AI Factory, where we are already submitting use cases that will utilize European computing power.
Cross-Border Collaboration
To remove barriers to healthcare implementation, we are seeking partnerships abroad. A trade mission to North Rhine-Westphalia is in the works, aimed at helping innovative Dutch projects scale up into the German market. And on September 9 and 10, we will be seeking Swedish partners during a MedTech 2035 session at the Dutch Embassy in Stockholm.
Would you like to join the mission to Germany? Sign up atgezondheidenzorg@aic4nl.nl.
