20 April 2022
Achtergrondartikelen
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The world is changing at a rapid pace. We are all facing major social challenges: the creation of a sustainable society. All this in the context of the environmental pressure on the earth, the increasing scarcity of raw materials and the growing influence of technology. This calls for a community platform where Limburg entrepreneurs from numerous sectors can find each other and strengthen each other.With shiftLimburg we are focusing on the four transitions: Energy, Circularity, Health & Digitalization. In this way we work together towards a smarter, more sustainable and healthier Limburg.
This article is part of a 4-part series around the four transitions which are central to this platform.
How?
Huge challenges
Huge challenges
"The healthcare sector is facing enormous challenges. For example, healthcare costs are expected to rise to €174 billion by 2040. There is a shortage of healthcare personnel and a very high workload. We are getting older as people and the number of people with one or more chronic diseases is expected to increase to 37% by 2025.
The Health Monitor published by the Municipal Health Service (GGD) shows that people in Limburg, and especially in Zuid-Limburg, live less long, on average, in good health than people in other provinces. This is partly due to Limburg's mining past. A change must therefore be made quickly.
Complex playing field
Complex playing field
"Healthcare innovations take a long time to reach the market and often cost more time and money than anticipated. In addition to all the technical challenges, entrepreneurs have to deal with a large stakeholder system. These include patients, doctors, procurement, hospital boards of directors and health insurers.
These parties have interests that are not all in line with each other. As an entrepreneur, you have to know the playing field very well, while also dealing with other challenges. In addition, entrepreneurs have to deal with strict regulations, because after all it's about the human body. The moment you want to bring something new to the market, you first have to provide heavy evidence. Moreover, most innovations require animal and human studies. These often long, expensive processes make it difficult to bring innovations quickly to the market.
At LIOF we interview entrepreneurs to see what they need. For example, knowledge of regulations or a network. It is important that we give entrepreneurs timely insight into the challenges they face, so they are well prepared. In addition, we link them to the right parties.
This way they get through the learning curve faster.
Working towards a healthier Limburg
"The health transition is important all over the Netherlands, all over the world. The healthcare system is under considerable pressure. Specifically for Limburg, because there are essential points of attention. There is a lot to be gained in prevention, healthy nutrition and vitality.
The Corona pandemic has also made us (citizens) realize that health is very important. And prevention, eating healthy, exercising and not smoking has a big influence on your resistance. I hope that this will create the momentum for prevention and that we can actually make this transition with our entire healthcare system."
Social Impact
"From the national knowledge and innovation agendas (KIAs), the four transitions energy, circularity, health and digitalization have been chosen as spearheads for Limburg. This region has a unique and innovative ecosystem that links up with strong sectors such as agrofood, logistics and manufacturing. But it is also a part of the Netherlands where there are still many areas for attention in the field of health.
Where we previously had a sectoral approach, we now want to bring about cross-sectoral change. By focusing on the four transitions, we ensure economic return with social impact. Research has shown that these four transitions are in line with the needs in our province. Energy, circularity and health are SDGs. Digitalization is the key technology needed to properly implement all transitions.
Automation and digitalization go hand in hand in agritech, for example, to ensure that we can increase agri-production with fewer resources. And collecting the right data and using it smartly plays a big role in developing innovation in healthcare, for example."