Three coalitions building a Healthy Region

Within the Healthy Region theme, the long-term goal is: to reduce health disparities. Because good, equal health is the engine of well-being and the economy.

After the kick-off of the Healthy Region theme in February, three topics were chosen to address in partner coalitions:

• The Sleeping Giant/ Innovation District MRA – for strengthening the regional Health & Biotech ecosystem
• MRA with a Heart – for inclusive regional cardiovascular health
• Healthy Buildings – for a healthy living environment through social cohesion and healthcare technology

The Sleeping Giant

The Amsterdam region boasts an impressive ecosystem in Life Sciences & Health and biotechnology. With research, education, campuses, startups, hospitals and investors of the highest level. Yet this ecosystem is still insufficiently visible – both nationally and internationally.

Partners within the coalition The Sleeping Giant/ Innovation District MRA want to change that. Lead partners ROM InWest and Amsterdam UMC are taking the lead in this effort.

Jointly enhanced presence

Coalition The Sleeping Giant/ Innovation District MRA. Click to enlarge.

The 11 April session focused on enhancing the region’s collective presence as a strong Biotech & Health ecosystem, as a source of innovation, valorisation and acceleration. And to better identify and strengthen the biotech strength of the region.

The ambition is to better connect the variety of organisations, knowledge and locations, make them more visible and accessible. Thus positioning the region even stronger (inter)nationally. Efforts will be made to jointly position and strengthen the ecosystem.

This is much needed for:

• An even better environment for growth and business establishment.
• The sustainable earning potential for the region.
• Making better use of regional knowledge, as a source of innovations that maintain a future-proof healthcare and reduce health disparities.

The goal is also for the region to help achieve the government’s ambition for the Netherlands to be among the global leaders in biotechnology by 2040 (Dutch article).

MRA with a Heart

Cardiovascular disease is still one of the leading causes of death in the Netherlands. Yet the approach often lacks urgency and coherence. Partners in the coalition MRA with a Heart are changing this. Board member Philips has taken the lead in this topic.

Together, the coalition aims to build a comprehensive, inclusive and data-driven approach to cardiovascular health. From prevention and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare, always with an eye on inclusion and effectiveness. In order to contribute to reducing health disparities in the region.

Improving cardiovascular health

Coalition MRA with a Heart. Click to enlarge.

The follow-up session on 15 April focused on concrete next steps. Partners want to join forces for a coherent programme. The ambition was expressed for the Amsterdam region to join CARDIO4Cities, and existing regional initiatives. To improve, bundle and strengthen cardiovascular health, supported by real-world data and behavioural insights.

Such as better distribution and notification of AEDs across the region, an accelerator program for innovative cardiovascular startups, impact of the physical environment and mobility, healthy eating in schools with direct health benefits and better awareness among residents.

This will strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and create a direct health impact. The coalition is developing into a strong network that connects knowledge, technology and healthcare practice – with a focus on residents.

Healthy Buildings

The social living environment plays a major role in health and teh demand for care. This is why partners within the Healthy Buildings coalition are working on innovative forms of housing that bring together health, social cohesion and care technology.

This requires buildings designed so that they support people to live independently and safely at home for longer. In an environment that promotes social cohesion, and with digital care technology that enables good care at home. To reduce health disparities, keep residents engaged in the workforce and continue to provide future-proof care.

Smart, caring living environments

Coalition Healthy Buildings. Click to enlarge.

The follow-up session on 17 April took place at Wisseloord residential complex in Gein (Amsterdam Zuidoost). Here the coalition – together with lead partner Rochdale – has a plan to implement an AI-based Safe Care Home system in one appartment. With the desire to expand this to all appartments in the complex after monitoring and evaluation. Then to develop a plan of action for scaling up to other neighbourhoods and cities in the region. The ambition is to develop a scalable, replicable model for smart, caring living environments.

The strength of this project lies in the combination of technology and community. A close-knit neighborhood structure already exists in Gein, in which residents, healthcare professionals and community organisations work closely together. That social base accelerates the acceptance and effectiveness of healthcare technology.

The City of Amsterdam will organise a hackathon to explore questions like: How to build a caring neighbourhood? You are welcome on 19 June from 13:00-17:00 at Buurthuis Gein, Wisseloord 83 in Amsterdam Zuidoost.

Stronger together

What these three coalitions have in common is that they do not stem from policy papers or abstract ambitions. They start from concrete collaborations between people and organisations that want to make a difference. Each coalition consists of partners who complement each other, from housing associations to businesses, from universities to healthcare providers, from startups to municipalities.

The Amsterdam Economic Board’s strength lies in that collaboration. In cleverly combining technology and humanity, in accelerating existing initiatives, and in building something together that is greater than the sum of its parts. In this way, within the Healthy Region theme, we are working step by step towards a metropolis where health, innovation and inclusion go hand in hand.