Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Health & Care 2024-2027

In 2019, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) has designated the societal theme Health & Care as one of the four global challenges for the coming years within the framework of the mission-driven top sectors and innovation policy. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) drew up five missions for this societal theme. The missions are ambitious and still leading, and are in line with the policy goals from the agreements and programs of VWS. Therefore, government, industry, knowledge institutions and social organisations continue to join forces for the transformation of Health & Care. 

With the growing urgency of the transformation of health and care, we increase the pace and bring focus and renewal. Therefore, with the national knowledge and innovation ecosystem, we focus on technological innovation and valorization in public-private partnerships. In addition, a new Health & Care mission has been added on preventing socially disruptive health threats. Furthermore, three additional and for the Netherlands crucial spearheads have been designated by the Cabinet. We are including these in our technological innovation programming. 

With all this, we want to contribute to achieving the central mission and the five specific missions of Health & Care, and to the impactful transformation that is central to the care agreements and programs of the ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. If we succeed, we will contribute to broad prosperity and economic growth, nationally and internationally. Above all, our joint efforts must also help address the most important challenge: reducing the unacceptable health inequalities between people in high and low socioeconomic positions. Therefore, we call on the innovative business community and all our other (future) partners to join us and contribute to the success of this agenda.

'When I look at our beautiful coalition and what it has already achieved, I am positive that in the next four years we will again make valuable steps. For the health and care of everyone in the Netherlands, for our society and economy. I look forward to doing that together with all of you.'

- Carmen Van Vilsteren, Chair Theme Team Health & Care

Read the new Knowledge and Innovation Agenda!