Menopause Matters
Around menopause women can face significant health challenges that affect their wellbeing, quality of life, and ability to work, while the societal and economic costs of inaction continue to rise. Menopause Matters brings researchers, companies, care providers and women together to create science based, technological solutions that improve health and support women in staying active at work.
Menopause Matters is a newly established public–private partnership programme addressing an important but long-overlooked health issue: menopause. The programme brings together a new programme group of knowledge institutes, companies, healthcare professionals, employers and societal organisations. Together, we develop technological innovations that improve health, wellbeing and sustainable employability of women during menopause, with a strong focus on working women. Starting in 2026 in the Netherlands, Menopause Matters builds on existing consortia and networks and aims to deliver scalable solutions with international potential.
The societal and economic impact of menopause is substantial. In the Netherlands, nearly 2 million women are in the menopausal transition, and a large proportion is employed. Around 55% experience limitations at work, and almost 40% report absenteeism averaging 26 days per year. This results in productivity losses of several thousand euros per woman annually and total societal costs in the hundreds of millions of euros. At the same time, the global FemTech market is rapidly growing towards hundreds of billions of euros, while less than 1% of investments are directed at menopause-related innovation. Targeted innovation is therefore urgently needed to reduce health and work-related burden while unlocking economic opportunities.
Menopause Matters develops solutions across four technological domains: wearables and biosensors, personalised eHealth tools, decision-support systems, and imaging and monitoring technologies. By combining medical data, lifestyle information and work-related insights into human-centred AI- and sensor-based solutions, the programme enables personalised support for women and practical tools for healthcare providers and employers. This integrated approach contributes to prevention, vitality, labour participation and strengthens the Netherlands’ international position in the FemTech sector.
PPP projects within Menopause Matters are selected through an invitation-only call. Eligible applicants include consortia of knowledge institutions, SMEs, companies, healthcare organisations and societal partners. A pre-application procedure ensures balanced selection across domains. Proposals are evaluated by an independent committee based on scientific quality, impact and feasibility. Selected projects are submitted to Health Holland/RVO in November 2026, with a possible additional round in May 2027.
Menopause Matters: Empowering innovative menopause solutions that truly work
10-12-2026 | Latest start date of program projects
07-01-2027 | Annual program report to Health Holland/RVO
Program coordinator
Netherlands Women’s Health Research & Innovation Center @ Erasmus MC
Prof Dr JJM Takkenberg and Heleen van der Valk Hohner
Projecten binnen dit programma
Binnen dit programma werken kennisinstellingen, bedrijven en zorgpartijen samen aan concrete gezondheidsvragen. Bekijk de projecten die eronder vallen.
Meer programma's van Health Holland
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