Reimagine Imaging

Reimagine Imaging brings researchers, healthcare providers, and industry together to develop more autonomous MRI and ultrasound technologies that enable faster, better medical diagnoses. By making imaging more accessible throughout the entire care chain, the program reduces pressure on healthcare staff, improves patient care, and helps make healthcare more sustainable.

Periode

Programmagroep

UMC Utrecht

Maastricht University

Philips Healthcare

High Tech NL

Reimagine Imaging is a public-private program that brings together leading universities, healthcare providers, industry partners, and technology companies to develop smart and more autonomous MRI and ultrasound solutions. The newly established programgroup is coordinated by UMC Utrecht and includes Maastricht University, Philips Healthcare, and High Tech NL. Together, they work with hospitals, general practitioners, care institutions, and companies to make medical diagnostics faster, more accessible, and more sustainable.

Healthcare is under increasing pressure due to an ageing population, rising numbers of chronic diseases, staff shortages, and growing costs. In the Netherlands alone, more than one million MRI scans and over four million ultrasound exams are performed each year, while the number of trained professionals cannot keep up. Long waiting times delay diagnosis and treatment and place a heavy burden on patients and healthcare workers. Innovation is urgently needed to keep healthcare affordable, accessible, and of high quality, both now and in the future.

Reimagine Imaging addresses these challenges by developing imaging technologies that can partly work autonomously and be used earlier in the care process, closer to the patient. The program focuses on four common medical areas: breast cancer, prostate cancer, vascular dementia, and abdominal complaints. By combining smart scanners, artificial intelligence, and new care pathways, diagnostics can be performed faster, with less staff, and in more locations such as general practices, care homes, or mobile screening units. This reduces unnecessary referrals, shortens waiting times, and improves patient experience.

The program uses a targeted “invitation-only” closed call selection procedure for four public-private partnership (PPP) projects. Consortia consisting of academic institutions, healthcare providers, and companies (including Dutch SMEs) are invited to submit proposals.