LIFE Innovation

Het is weer zo ver, de LIFE BBQ komt eraan, dus blokkeer die agenda’s! We kijken ernaar uit om opnieuw samen te komen met alle leden en partners van de LIFE Cooperative voor een ontspannen middag en avond. Het is het perfecte moment om bij te praten, onze verbindingen te versterken en te genieten van lekker eten en goed gezelschap. We hopen jullie daar te zien!

We have some fantastic news: the 5th edition of the LIFE Science Conference will take place on Tuesday 22 September 2026! The LIFE Science Conference will feature an inspiring keynote speech, and we will round off the day with an annual highlight: the LIFE Science Innovation Award.

Accelerating Sustainability in Healthcare Paulina Snijders, member of the UMCG Executive Board, and Bart Volkers, director of the Circular Groningen Drenthe Association (VCGD), opened the executive network meeting. They emphasized the importance of cooperation between all partners. Artist Maria Koijck delivered an inspiring keynote on visualizing hospital waste. UMCG Chief Green Officer Schelto Kruijff outlined opportunities to accelerate sustainability in healthcare, sharing inspiring examples such as the use of a washable, reusable insulation gown. Project leaders Sven Jurgens and Femke van der Zant described how the consortium has significantly developed in recent times.Various Work Packages The executives exchanged extensive experience and knowledge, and the Care2Change work package leaders presented posters. The work packages focus on areas such as redesigning single-use healthcare products and mapping the CO₂ emissions of products. Sven Jurgens said: “Care2Change is the starting point for continued collaboration on making healthcare more sustainable. How valuable it would be if, through this collaboration, we could provide a blueprint for others to inspire them to go green as well.”Northern Netherlands as an Example Hanneke Bouwsema, secretary to the special government representative for the circular economy at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, emphasized the importance of starting small and recognizing the sustainable initiatives that are already working well. She described the Northern Netherlands as a “role model” for The Hague when it comes to making healthcare more sustainable.About the Care2Change Consortium Care2Change is a collaboration between UMCG, University of Groningen, Martini Hospital, Sterinoord, GS1/EAN Netherlands, Boikon, Ommelander Hospital, Treant, Frisius MC, NHL Stenden, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Circular Friesland Association, LIFE Cooperative, Circular Groningen Drenthe Association, Green Chemistry Drenthe Business Network (SUSPACC), Milieuplatform Zorg, Nij Smellinghe, Pezy Product Design, 8D Games, House of Design, Antonius Hospital, NOM, Menzis, De Friesland, Ecoras, BBENG, the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, and the municipalities of Groningen, Assen, Leeuwarden and Emmen. The project is partly funded by SNN’s ERDF resources, with co-financing from the participating organizations.More Information Want to know more about Care2Change and the consortium? Read: UMCG trots op nieuwe samenwerking die uitstoot terugdringt: Care2change Source article: Care2Change

ParaMedir, an innovative medical technology company based in the Northern Netherlands, is proud to announce the significant EFRO subsidy of about €600,000.00 awarded by SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland). This subsidy will support a groundbreaking consortium led by ParaMedir in their mission to improve healthcare through innovative (bio)monitoring solutions. Next to the subsidy granted by the SNN, the province of Groningen and the municipality of Groningen have both agreed to finance this project as well, contributing about €130,000.00, underlining the importance of this project for the region.