IDE Group: driving innovation in MedTech and Women’s Health

IDE Group, based in Rotterdam, is a leading MedTech partner. With over 20 years of experience, the company supports multinationals, startups, and researchers in developing groundbreaking medical technologies worldwide. Now, IDE Group is sharpening its strategic focus, emphasising specialised areas like women’s health, helping shape the future of healthcare innovation. Daan Hittema, Business Development Leader at IDE Group Europe, discusses the company’s evolving focus and its role within the Rotterdam innovation ecosystem.

With over 60 MedTech products launched over the past two decades, IDE Group has quietly become a go-to partner for MedTech ventures navigating the complex path from idea to market.

“We partner with MedTech companies to bring their ideas and products to life,” says Daan Hittema, IDE Group’s Business Development Leader in the EU. “That means not just developing the solution but considering the entire venture, creating the right proposition for a real problem and handling quality, regulatory strategy, and setting up reliable, scalable supply.”

What sets IDE apart is its holistic approach, something the company describes as Entrepreneurship-led Design. “It’s about working within real-world constraints (time, capital, regulation) and still finding a way to deliver meaningful outcomes,” Hittema explains. “We treat every project like it is our own. Even if we’re not the investor, we act like we have skin in the game.” That mindset plays out in the details. Every decision is validated. Feedback loops with users and experts are constant. Teams move quickly but deliberately, always aware of the risk landscape.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in healthcare innovations,” Hittema says. “We don’t avoid it; we work through it with experience and structure. That’s how we increase the chances of success and help MedTech ventures move forward with confidence.”

A Strategic Shift in Positioning

IDE Group has been strategically shifting the company’s positioning. “What sets us apart isn’t just the services we offer,” says Daan Hittema. “Plenty of groups can say they do development or regulatory. What I find more interesting is showing how we do it and the real impact we’ve had—where we’ve built deep expertise and how that shaped the outcomes.”

Rather than positioning itself as a generalist development partner, IDE is now leaning into its track record in key areas. Over the years, the team has built up deep, practical knowledge across multiple sectors—knowledge that’s now being brought to the forefront and can be applied across modalities. “We’ve recognised where we bring the most value and where the demand really is,” Hittema explains. “That’s led us to focus on a few core areas like respiratory care, women’s health, and radiotherapy. We’re also investing in innovation across device types: connected care, point-of-care diagnostics, drug delivery systems, and surgical devices.”

This strategic focus positions IDE Group as a leader in developing medical devices and supporting MedTech ventures across the healthcare sector.

Elevating Women’s Health

Women’s health has become a key focus area for IDE Group. “Over the years, we have developed a strong track record in women’s health, with projects from cervical cancer screening for developing countries, blood-based pregnancy tests, to wearables for foetal monitoring that can predict and prevent postpartum complications,” Hittema explains. “This track record aligns well with the growing trend in women’s health we see today and the many tractions around this topic across Europe.” These developments led to IDE Group launching their women’s health campaign – for now, regional but aiming to expand it globally.

One of the biggest challenges in women’s health innovation is the lack of data specific to women, which in turn hinders the delivery and effectiveness of care. “Most of the medical research has historically focused on men, leaving a significant gap in understanding women’s health needs,” Hittema says. “This lack of data also creates barriers, unclear regulatory pathways and extents to non-traditional and more complex reimbursement models for FemTech ventures, making investors even more cautious than they already are.” “So, our society owes women centuries of research and innovation,” he concluded. By addressing these challenges, IDE Group is committed to encouraging more focus on women’s health and supporting the development of new specific solutions.

The company is actively promoting women’s health through initiatives like the IDE Pitch Competition at the upcoming Innovation for Health conference on April 3. Hittema: “We are very aware that women’s health needs that spotlight right now. That is why we are partnering up with Innovation for Health for a pitch competition between FemTech innovations.“ Five promising women’s health initiatives and startups get the opportunity to pitch in front of a jury, and the winner receives an innovation service package from IDE Group to help them shape their strategy and accelerate development. “We are proud of our amazing jury: Carmen van Vilsteren from Health~Holland, and Arianna van Koppen from TNO. Two fantastic women who we are honoured to have on board.” Through the pitch competition, IDE Group aims to connect promising FemTech ventures with industry experts and potential investors, ultimately helping more startups successfully reach the market.

“I hope we keep giving women’s health the attention it deserves—until one day, we don’t need to label it separately at all. It’ll just be ‘health.’”

The Road Ahead for Women’s Health Innovation

Looking forward, Hittema envisions a decade that holds potential for a significant transformation in women’s health. “In the next years, I hope to see a lot more investment from the government and other philanthropic initiatives in research,” he explains. “With ongoing research, we can gather more comparative data and bridge the women’s health gap. Like our commitment to Wellcome Leap‘s “In Utero” program, which aims to reduce stillbirth rates by half, in part through innovative ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy projects, demonstrating our dedication to driving impactful change for mother and child. Data will enable ventures to attract further investments and translate those funds into marketable propositions.”

IDE Group aspires a future where women’s health is integrated into general health considerations, supported by the already emerging programs and funds dedicated to FemTech and female-led ventures. “Women’s health often gets positioned as a niche,” Hittema notes. “But it’s not. It’s half the population. I hope we keep giving it the attention it deserves—until one day, we don’t need to label it separately at all. It’ll just be ‘health.’ But we’re not there yet. There’s still a lot of progress to be made.”

Fostering Innovation in Rotterdam

Since establishing its European headquarters at the Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam five years ago, IDE Group has become an integral part of Rotterdam’s innovation ecosystem. Hittema notes that “IDE Group benefits from access to clinical experts and research in Rotterdam, specifically at the renowned Erasmus MC,” where IDE also has a studio on campus. The hospital, along with its recently opened Netherlands Women’s Health Research & Innovation Center and the new Koers28 strategy, focuses on problem-driven research and innovation. Hittema concludes that this aligns perfectly with IDE’s philosophy.

Rotterdam’s central location enables seamless collaboration with IDE Group’s European partners, and the region’s dynamic collaborations, strong educational institutions, and thriving entrepreneurial community provide IDE Group with great access to talent and growth opportunities. “It is an incredible network to be part of, where people truly try to help each other grow. We believe the environment here is unique in Europe.”

IDE Group shares the city’s innovative and collaborative mindset. “We are always on the lookout for more initiators and driving forces to start new projects and see them through to success – those who are eager to take the first step, collaborate, embrace feedback, and challenge their own assumptions,” Hittema says. “We value individuals who are not just driven by self-interest but are genuinely committed to making a difference.”

As IDE Group continues to push the boundaries of MedTech innovation, its mission remains clear: to develop life-changing products and businesses that shape the future of healthcare.

Inspired by IDE Group’s mission and would you like to know more? Visit www.ide.group or reach out to Daan Hittema at daan.hittema@ide.group.

Date: April 1, 2025