Ons laatste nieuws
Global Healthcare Giant Medtronic Acquires Dutch Medical Device Company in Strategic Move
Maastricht, Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
Medtronic’s December 2025 acquisition of Limburg-based Fortimedix Surgical marks the tenth successful exit for regional investor BVP’s healthcare portfolio, demonstrating the strength of Netherlands’ medical innovation sector. The acquired company, now operating as Medtronic Articulating Technologies, specialized in laser technology for articulating surgical instruments used in minimally invasive procedures. This strategic acquisition positions Medtronic to capitalize on the rapidly expanding laparoscopy devices market, projected to reach $23.59 billion by 2034 with an 8.73% annual growth rate. The deal showcases how regional investment funds BVP and LIOF successfully nurtured a local biomedical startup to international scale, potentially impacting millions of patients worldwide through advanced surgical technologies.
Laatste nieuws in green
Dutch Dairy Farms Can Cut Feed Protein 15% Without Losing Milk Production
Wageningen, Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
Wageningen University research reveals dairy cows maintain full milk output when protein in feed drops from 15.4% to 14.3% - a breakthrough that could slash nitrogen emissions across Netherlands’ dairy sector while preserving farm profitability and meeting sustainability targets.
Laatste nieuws in community
Netherlands Tax Change Threatens Startup Employee Benefits with Levy on Unsold Shares
Amsterdam, Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
Dutch startups face a crisis as new 2028 tax laws will force employees to pay 36% tax on paper gains from company stock options they cannot sell. The Box 3 reform creates an unprecedented situation where startup workers may owe substantial taxes on illiquid equity compensation, potentially requiring personal loans to cover obligations.
Laatste nieuws in data
Dutch Court System Data Errors Give 50,000 Innocent Citizens Criminal Records
The Hague, Monday, 23 February 2026.
A massive data integrity crisis in the Netherlands has left potentially 50,000 innocent residents with criminal records they don’t know they have. While official audits identified 876 name processing errors in the Judicial Information Service, whistleblowers reveal the true scale is dramatically higher. The system failures have led to shocking cases like an innocent Irish man serving a month-long prison sentence meant for someone else simply due to matching search criteria.
Laatste nieuws in semicon
Dutch AI Chip Startup Secures Record $250 Million in Europe's Largest Semiconductor Funding
Eindhoven, Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
Axelera AI’s groundbreaking funding round represents a watershed moment for European tech independence, as the Netherlands-based company challenges Nvidia’s dominance with energy-efficient edge computing solutions that process data locally rather than in power-hungry data centers.
Laatste nieuws in bio
Dutch Researchers Achieve 96% Accuracy in AI Nematode Detection for Crop Protection
Wageningen, Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
Wageningen University scientists have successfully developed an AI system that matches expert performance in identifying harmful nematodes, achieving 96% accuracy in February 2026 tests. The breakthrough addresses a critical agricultural challenge where these microscopic worms cause tens of billions in crop damage annually, affecting 10% of global production. Traditional identification requires specialized expertise to distinguish between nearly identical species that can ban crop exports. The AI-powered Nemascope system now enables farmers to implement precise, sustainable pest management strategies instead of broad-spectrum treatments, potentially revolutionizing how the agricultural sector handles these devastating crop threats.
