Study visit to Utrecht within the Health Cities initiative
Last week, Medicon Village Innovation, together with regional stakeholders such as the City of Lund, Region Skåne, Innovation Skåne, and Medicon Valley Alliance, participated in a study visit to Utrecht, the Netherlands, within the framework of the Interreg Europe HEALTH CITIES initiative. The visit was hosted by ROM Utrecht Region.
The purpose of the visit was to exchange experiences with regional authorities, science parks, and innovation actors from across Europe on how to develop strong and sustainable life science and health ecosystems. The programme was structured around three thematic areas: ecosystem development and governance, the role of science parks, and the role of major events as catalysts for innovation.
The first day explored how the Utrecht region works with regional collaboration, investment and internationalisation, as well as national funding initiatives. The second day focused on Utrecht Science Park – the largest science park in the Netherlands, with more than 31,000 employees and 170 organisations – and demonstrated how academia, industry, and the public sector collaborate to develop innovation environments, including incubation support and research infrastructure. The third day highlighted how major industry events, such as the Zorg & ICT Fair, can contribute to increased visibility, matchmaking, and innovation capacity, including a focused session on the role and development of AI in healthcare.
The study visit provided valuable insights into how integrated approaches, clear governance structures, and strong support systems can strengthen regional competitiveness. As the project progresses, these learnings will support ongoing efforts to advance the “3Cs” of Competence, Capital, and Commercialisation within the Skåne life science ecosystem.
HEALTH CITIES is an Interreg Europe-funded initiative aimed at improving local policy instruments for municipalities seeking to foster innovative, entrepreneur-driven health and life science ecosystems. The consortium brings together nine partner organisations across eight cities in seven European countries, with Lund represented by the City of Lund and Medicon Village.
Read more about the initiative here: