Alderman Tim Versnel visits Erasmus MC to explore economic opportunities with Rotterdam Square

Medical innovation can improve people’s lives, but how do promising discoveries reach patients at scale? And how can the Rotterdam region benefit from the economic opportunities they create?

These questions were central to a visit by Alderman Tim Versnel to Erasmus MC, where he learned more about the collaboration between Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Rotterdam and TU Delft, and the development of the Health Tech Campus.

Dirk Schraven, Nick Bos and Ellen Smit welcomed the alderman and presented the campus development, the regional Life Sciences & Health ecosystem and its achievements so far.

Medical innovation in practice

Two demonstrations offered a closer look at how collaboration between medicine and technology can lead to new healthcare solutions.

Researchers from Erasmus MC and TU Delft are combining cardiology, microelectronics and data analysis to map the heart’s electrical activity during heart surgery. This research provides new insights into cardiac arrhythmias and can contribute to better diagnostics and treatments.

A second project, developed by researchers from TU Delft, Erasmus MC and Erasmus University Rotterdam, uses sensor technology to measure the health effects of air pollution and climate change through the skin. The research aims to support earlier disease prevention and inform health and environmental policy.

Turning innovation into economic opportunity

As Alderman Tim Versnel highlighted in his reflections on the visit, developing a medical innovation is only the beginning. Businesses are needed to produce and commercialise these innovations so they can reach patients at scale. Enabling more of this activity to take place in the Rotterdam region could also create jobs and strengthen the local economy.

The development of the Health Tech Campus can help bring healthcare, research, education and business closer together. During the visit, Ellen Smit also introduced Rotterdam Square and explained our role in connecting organisations across the regional Life Sciences & Health ecosystem. By helping companies connect with knowledge institutions, healthcare professionals and other relevant partners, we support collaboration across the region.

The visit highlighted the potential of closer collaboration to bring healthcare innovations closer to patients and create economic opportunities for Rotterdam.