The Hague University of Applied Sciences: 'Care innovation hub interesting because it is located in the middle of the neighborhood'

The Healthcare Innovation Hub has many enthusiastic partners. But who are these partners and what do they contribute? Meet Luc de Witte, lecturer in Technology for Healthcare at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

Luc de Witte specializes in healthcare technology and healthcare innovation and represents The Hague University of Applied Sciences within the Healthcare Innovation Hub.

Why did The Hague University of Applied Sciences become a partner of Healthcare Innovation Hub?

“The Healthcare Innovation Hub is interesting for our healthcare and technology students because it is a physical location in the middle of a residential area in The Hague. Because before students can come up with technical solutions for healthcare, they must first know the social domain well.”

Why is that so important?

“Because that is the only way to find out whether healthcare technology really works. We see that innovations often miss the mark because they offer a solution to a problem that does not exist. This is because these initiatives often start in the lab. Instead, we should start with the problem holders. These are partly healthcare professionals, but the biggest problem holder is of course 'Aunt Mien around the corner', or the ordinary citizen.”

What role does The Hague University of Applied Sciences take on within the Healthcare Innovation Hub?

“A role for The Hague University of Applied Sciences is to evaluate healthcare technology. That happens far too little. Apps and care robots are springing up like mushrooms, without having to meet quality criteria. As a result, much technology contains incorrect information, sells data or simply does not work. Doing research is therefore important and that is something that The Hague University of Applied Sciences can bring.”

What is your vision for the hub?

“It must become a place where citizens, healthcare professionals, startups and students come up with technical solutions together that meet quality criteria. The partners involved in the hub and the institutions with which the hub collaborates, such as the municipality of The Hague and investors, must all work towards a common goal. I thought the launch on February 1 was a promising start. There was a lot of enthusiasm.”

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