Health Valley Event 2026: the premier meeting place for the future of health and well-being

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Health Valley Event will take place at De Vasim in Nijmegen. The event has grown into the largest healthcare innovation conference in the eastern Netherlands and the annual meeting point for everyone working on innovation in health and well-being.

During the Health Valley Event, professionals from healthcare, industry, research, education, and government come together to share knowledge, gain inspiration, and collaborate on solutions to current and future challenges in healthcare.

Strong plenary program

The program features a mix of inspiring keynotes, real-world case studies, and in-depth sessions. Comedian and presenter Dolf Jansen will serve as host, connecting the day’s themes with his energy, humor, and sharp insights.

Gijs van Wulfen, internationally recognized as Global Thought Leader in Design Thinking 2024, will deliver a keynote on breaking through innovation barriers in healthcare practice. Using his FORTH methodology, he demonstrates how innovation can become concrete and actionable.

The nominees for the National Healthcare Innovation Award 2026 will also take the stage, presenting innovations that show how healthcare is truly changing. The day will conclude with Jitske Kramer, who will guide the audience through Tricky Times: collaboration, culture, and humanity in a world of constant change.

In-depth sessions, tracks, and exhibition floor

In addition to the plenary program, the Health Valley Event offers a wide range of in-depth sessions, interactive workshops, and a vibrant exhibition floor showcasing the latest healthcare innovations. In the afternoon, participants can choose from several tracks, including sponsor sessions and content-driven programs by organizations such as Lifeport Region Arnhem Nijmegen and Twente Board, spread across three rounds.

Themes

The event focuses on themes such as:

• From healthcare to positive health
• Digital and hybrid care
• Labor market challenges and workload
• Data, AI, and technological innovation
• Prevention, well-being, and the living environment
• Implementation and scaling of innovations
• Collaboration between healthcare, government, knowledge institutions, and industry

MedTech Twente track

Track: From Regional Opportunities to Acceleration and Successful Scaling of MedTech Innovations

This MedTech track focuses on key developments shaping the future of healthcare, and how we can accelerate and successfully scale medical innovations.

13:00 – 13:40 | MedTech & Prevention Opportunities in the Eastern Netherlands
With contributions from Ilse Jansen (Theme Lead MedTech & Prevention, Think East Netherlands) and Remke Burie (Managing Director of the TechMed Centre at the University of Twente), discussing how the eastern Netherlands is driving future MedTech innovation.

14:00 – 14:40 | Accelerating MedTech Innovations through the Hospital of the Future
How healthcare environments, technology, and collaboration come together to bring innovation to clinical practice faster and more effectively.

15:00 – 15:40 | Successfully Scaling MedTech Innovations
Nathan Bartels (Business Developer at Demcon Life Sciences & Health) and Arthur Aalsma from BAAT Medical discuss how demand-driven innovation, involving end users from the earliest stages, leads to sharper strategic choices and a greater chance of successful scaling.

These sessions illustrate how real-world practice, technology, and strong regional collaboration collectively shape the future of MedTech.

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