The pressure on healthcare is increasing. Staff are becoming increasingly difficult to find, demand for care is growing and society is ageing. That is precisely why new ideas and technological innovations are indispensable. They can support healthcare professionals, improve treatments, and help keep healthcare accessible.
That is the strength of the collaboration between Radboudumc and the University of Twente.
Within HealthTech Nexus, researchers, doctors, and technology experts work together on solutions to healthcare challenges for which no effective solution yet exists, so-called unmet needs. The goal is clear: to develop innovative ideas and ultimately translate them into solutions that benefit patients.
The TURBO programme is part of HealthTech Nexus. Over the past ten years, forty joint projects have been launched through the programme. In this way, the collaboration has created fertile ground for innovations in medical technology.
From meeting to innovation
New collaborations arise in different ways. Sometimes a researcher or medical specialist takes the initiative, while in other cases partners are brought together through existing networks. Some 200 employees of the University of Twente are now working with researchers and healthcare professionals from Radboudumc on a wide range of projects. The collaboration is also producing strong scientific results: the number of joint publications grew from 33 in 2014 to 164 in 2025.
The collaboration has already resulted in several compelling examples. Researchers within HealthTech Nexus, for instance, developed a miniature heart in the laboratory that allows them to investigate the effects of extreme exercise on the human heart. In the future, the model could contribute to a better understanding of heart disease and more personalised training and treatment advice.
Retina-on-a-chip
Another example is the development of a retina-on-a-chip. This technology allows eye diseases to be studied using cultured human tissue. Interestingly, the project began during a workshop where researchers from both organisations met, identified a shared problem and saw a possible solution. This led to a TURBO application and ultimately to a long-term collaboration.
More examples of the collaboration can be found here.
A modest celebration
On 1 October, the tenth anniversary of the TURBO programme was celebrated during a special gathering in Enschede. More than fifty medical specialists, researchers and technical physicians from Radboudumc travelled to the TechMed Centre at the University of Twente for the occasion.
The day focused on getting to know one another, exchanging knowledge and exploring new opportunities for collaboration between healthcare and technology.
Working together
During parallel working sessions, participants explored themes such as sensor technology, medical imaging, neuromodulation, health robotics, artificial intelligence, digital twins and movement analysis.
The focus was not on the technologies themselves, but on challenges from day-to-day clinical practice. One of the topics explored was soft 3D printing. This technology makes it possible to print materials that mimic human tissue, potentially allowing heart tissue, muscles and other soft structures to be simulated more realistically for research and training in the future.
Participants also explored how sensor technology could help detect changes in patients’ health at an earlier stage. In this way, the sessions helped create new connections between clinical challenges and technological expertise.
Ten years of TURBO
To conclude the day, the four new TURBO projects for 2027 were announced. The TURBO programme, which stands for Twente University Radboudumc Opportunities, supports four new joint research teams from both institutions each year in developing promising medical technology ideas. Each project receives a grant of €80,000, intended as a springboard for securing larger-scale follow-up funding.
Winners of the 2027 TURBO-grants
More information about HealthTech Nexus and the TURBO programme can be found on the Radboudumc and University of Twente websites.
Here’s to the next ten years!
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