Netherlands Launches €5 Million Program to Tackle Menopause Through Technology
Enschede, Sunday, 8 March 2026.
While women represent half the global population, only 2% of medical technology investments target women’s health. The University of Twente joins a groundbreaking national consortium addressing this gap through the Menopause Matters program. Nearly 2 million Dutch women face menopause symptoms affecting work and health, yet this life stage remains a healthcare blind spot. The initiative will develop innovative solutions including smart biosensors, hormone trackers, and personalized health apps. This collaborative effort between leading universities and private partners represents a significant step toward closing gender health disparities in medical innovation and technology development.
Healthtech Innovation Classification and Consortium Structure
This initiative falls squarely within the healthtech category, specifically targeting medical technology development for women’s health [1]. The Menopause Matters program is coordinated by Erasmus MC and brings together a multidisciplinary consortium comprising the University of Twente, Amsterdam UMC, Borski Fund, and Vuurvrouw [1][2]. The initiative has secured €5 million in funding through Health-Holland, positioning it as one of the Netherlands’ most significant investments in gender-specific healthcare technology [1][2]. The program operates as a Public-Private Partnership launched by Health-Holland, demonstrating the Dutch government’s commitment to addressing healthcare gender disparities through technological innovation [2].
Technology Solutions and Health Benefits
The program will develop collaborative projects between researchers and companies focused on promising innovations across three key health areas: cardiovascular health, mental health, and bone and muscle health [1]. Specific technological solutions include new or female-specific medical devices, smart biosensors, hormone trackers, mobile applications, and self-care tools [1][2]. These innovations are designed around real female experiences and include wearables, personalized eHealth tools, decision-support systems, and advanced monitoring technologies [2]. The benefits extend beyond individual health outcomes, as these technologies can help prevent health problems, maintain labor participation, and ultimately reduce both social and economic costs associated with menopause-related workplace issues [1].
Addressing the Innovation Gap
The program directly tackles a significant disparity in medical technology investment, where despite women comprising half the global population, only approximately 2 percent of global investments in medical technology focus on women’s health [1][2]. Dr. Anique Bellos-Grob, assistant professor and chair of the Technology for Women’s Health program at the TechMed Centre of the University of Twente, emphasizes the university’s responsibility to contribute solutions for health issues that have long received insufficient attention [1]. The University of Twente is specifically located in the Netherlands and contributes expertise in medical technology, digital healthcare, and design-oriented research focused on women’s health through its TechMed Centre [1]. Physical and mental symptoms related to menopause, pelvic floor disorders such as prolapse and incontinence, and optimizing care around breast cancer represent key focus areas for the university’s contributions [1].
Workplace Impact and Economic Implications
The economic rationale for this technology development is compelling, as nearly 2 million women in the Netherlands experience menopause symptoms that affect both their health and their ability to work [1][2]. These symptoms often remain invisible in workplace sick leave systems, creating what researchers describe as symptoms that “don’t show up on a sick note but show up every single day at work” [2]. The current situation leads to significant absenteeism and, in some cases, long-term withdrawal from the labor market, representing substantial economic losses [1]. Professor Hanneke Takkenberg of Erasmus MC emphasizes that bringing together knowledge and expertise in diverse consortiums like Menopause Matters is essential to reducing health disparities between men and women [1]. The collaborative approach ensures that clinical questions are transformed into practical technological solutions through the combined expertise of academic institutions and private sector partners.