Driving Innovation in Prevention and Medical Technology: Dutch-German Business Dialogue

Cross-border collaboration in the Euregio region plays a pivotal role in tackling major healthcare challenges more efficiently. This was the key takeaway from the third Dutch-German Business Dialogue on medical technology, held at the University Hospital Münster (UKM). Organized by our Dutch-German TECH.LAND initiative, the event brought together 50 experts from academia and industry to discuss how innovations achieved in the Euregio region could advance the MedTech sector and healthcare prevention.

One solution: Cross-Border Collaborations

“I don’t believe cross-border collaboration can thrive everywhere. But here, it does – and that’s a privilege,” emphasized UKM Director Prof. Dr. Alexander W. Friedrich. Reflecting on the joint efforts of the TECH.LAND partners, he highlighted challenges such as an aging population, the growing demand for acute care amidst limited workforce resources, and the impact of rapid technological advancements. He pointed out the importance of expanding networks among MedTech companies, academia, and policymakers to further develop the market for prevention solutions.

Insights from Industry Leaders

A panel discussion with company representatives explored these topics further. Entrepreneurs such as Robin Brünger (activmed GmbH), Dr. Kathleen Spring (Netzwerk Gesundheitswirtschaft Münsterland e.V.), Dr. Bettina Horster (VIVAI Software AG), Jan Leideman (Demcon), Dr. Martijn Vastenburg (Lizz Health) and Bram de Moor (You2Yourself) shared best practices and discussed regulatory challenges, like health insurance reimbursement rules, user-friendliness for an aging population, and differences and synergies between Germany and the Netherlands.

About the Business Dialogue

The Dutch-German Business Dialogue on Medical Technology is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at fostering innovation, enhancing collaboration in healthcare, and increasing visibility for the Dutch-German border region. Organized under the TECH.LAND initiative, the event series is supported by CeNTech GmbH, Wirtschaftsförderung Münster, Gesellschaft für Bioanalytik Münster e.V., Oost NL, the Dutch-German Chamber of Commerce, and IHK Nord Westfalen.

The dialogue series is funded through the INTERREG program Germany-Netherlands and its partners, co-financed by the European Union (EU).

• Photo: Prof. Dr. Alexander W. Friedrich, Director of the University Hospital Münster; Photo by Heiner Witte, provided by IHK Nord Westfalen.