Netherlands Aims to Become Europe's Medical Technology Leader with €5.5 Billion Investment Plan
Eindhoven, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Philips spearheads an ambitious €5.5 billion investment initiative to transform the Netherlands into Europe’s premier medical technology hub. The comprehensive growth plan directly targets critical healthcare challenges including extensive waiting lists, severe staff shortages, and escalating care costs through innovative homegrown solutions. Today’s presentation to government ministers marks a pivotal moment for Dutch medtech ambitions, with Roy Jakobs emphasizing how medical technology investment simultaneously strengthens healthcare resilience and economic competitiveness. This strategic move positions the Netherlands to compete globally in healthcare innovation.
Strategic Presentation to Government Ministers
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the MedTech growth plan was formally presented to Dutch government officials at Nieuwspoort [2][3]. The presentation targeted both the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, demonstrating the plan’s dual focus on healthcare improvement and economic development [3]. This coordinated approach reflects the sector’s understanding that medical technology investments serve multiple strategic interests simultaneously. The timing of this presentation follows the recent release of the Wennink Report on December 11, 2025, which emphasized the critical importance of technological innovation for national welfare [2].
Philips Leadership and Manufacturing Base
Royal Philips, under the leadership of CEO Roy Jakobs, operates a significant manufacturing facility in Best, Netherlands, where approximately 3,000 employees focus on healthcare equipment innovation and production [1]. This substantial workforce represents a cornerstone of Dutch medtech capabilities, positioning the company as a natural leader for the national growth initiative. Jakobs articulates the strategic rationale clearly: “Investing in medical technology touches two strategic interests of the Netherlands simultaneously: a future-proof and resilient healthcare system and a successful, innovative economy” [3]. The Best facility serves as a tangible example of how domestic manufacturing can support both healthcare objectives and economic growth.
Integration with National Innovation Strategy
The MedTech growth plan aligns closely with broader national innovation priorities outlined in the Wennink Report, which was developed with input from over 1,000 experts [2]. This comprehensive report identifies four strategically relevant domains: digitalization and AI, security and resilience, energy and climate technology, and life sciences and biotechnology [2]. The Brightlands Smart Services Campus contributed specific input to the medtech chapter through the Health AI & Data Alliance Limburg, demonstrating regional expertise feeding into national strategy [2]. Peter Wennink concluded the report’s presentation with an urgency call: “Doing nothing is more expensive, so we must start today” [2], underscoring the time-sensitive nature of these investments.
Addressing Critical Healthcare Challenges
The €5.5 billion investment plan directly targets three fundamental problems plaguing Dutch healthcare: extensive waiting lists, severe personnel shortages, and escalating care costs [1][4]. According to the Wennink Report, without structural investments in innovation, both the quality and accessibility of healthcare will come under increasing pressure [3]. The MedTech sector’s message to policymakers emphasizes that with appropriate conditions and supportive policies, the Netherlands has the potential to achieve a leading global position in medical technology [3]. This comprehensive approach seeks to leverage homegrown innovation solutions to address systemic healthcare challenges while simultaneously strengthening the Netherlands’ competitive position in the global medtech market [1][4].