The Dutch government is committing €102.5 million to strengthen the country’s medical technology sector over the next decade, positioning MedTech as both an economic growth engine and a key part of the future of healthcare. The investment, which runs until 2036, is expected to be matched by private industry, with Philips already announcing a €50 million commitment to AI- and robotics-enabled medical technologies.
The sector is ready to innovate and invest. The Cabinet is seising the opportunity now that there is momentum by co-investing. Everything is aimed at strengthening the current ecosystem for medical technology in the Netherlands. The commitment of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) is to maximise the opportunities for successful innovation in healthcare, together with other ministries, industry, knowledge institutions and healthcare stakeholders. In this way, economic interests ultimately contribute to patients’ interests. How wonderful is that.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Heleen Herbert
You can already see a tremendous amount happening in hospitals in the field of innovation, and as the Cabinet, we want to ensure that good initiatives are scaled up quickly. In addition, we have companies in the Netherlands that are frontrunners in medical technology. And the fact that we, as the government, are now joining forces with these innovative organisations means that innovation will receive another significant boost. Something very beautiful can grow from this triangle of hospitals, industry and government for patients, namely better diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. New techniques can also make a serious contribution to the job satisfaction of healthcare professionals.
Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Sophie Hermans
One ecosystem for medical technology
The public-private investment comes in response to the MedTech Growth Plan, part of the Wennink report. However, the Cabinet’s commitment is broader; it is working with the sector towards a single MedTech ecosystem. An ecosystem that is also supported by, for example, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), knowledge institutions, technical universities, healthcare institutions and large corporations. The government’s role lies primarily in creating the conditions that can strengthen the entire ecosystem, such as appropriate legislation and regulations, healthcare implementation, and data infrastructure and AI.
The investment is aimed at three initiatives (or ‘lines of action’) to grow the MedTech ecosystem:
National vision and direction
VWS and EZK are working on a recognisable and coherent MedTech policy. With a unified government voice, clear priorities and more efficient use of resources, in close cooperation with the sector.
Image-guided therapies through AI and robotics
VWS and EZK are investing in innovations in the field of image-guided therapies, combined with AI. The Netherlands already has a strong position in this area, and this investment offers opportunities for high-quality jobs, new production and exports. The Philips investment is focused on improving image-guided therapy with AI and robotics to enable the operating theatre of the future.
Hospitals of the future
VWS and EZK are also investing in the development of hospitals of the future, aimed at the development, implementation and scaling up of innovative care concepts throughout the Netherlands. The goal is to reduce staff shortages and shorten waiting times while simultaneously strengthening the innovation capacity, resilience and earning power of the Dutch healthcare system.
13.07.2026.
