Originally published in Het Financieele Dagblad (FD), as part of the Life Science & Healthcare publication. Translated into English by Task Force Health Care.
The Netherlands is among the leading countries in healthcare innovation. From medical technology and digital health solutions to diagnostics, Dutch companies are developing products that attract international attention. Yet many promising scale-ups encounter challenges when expanding abroad. The domestic market is relatively small, but entering a large and complex market such as the United States requires more than just a good product.
The gap between a clinically validated technology and a commercially scalable business is greater than many entrepreneurs expect. Reimbursement regulations, hospital procurement procedures, state-specific legislation and access to experienced investors all require local knowledge and the right connections.
From Gujarat to Texas
For thirty years, Task Force Health Care (TFHC) has been working to address precisely these challenges. The organisation was established in 1996 following a project in the Indian state of Gujarat, where Philips brought together Dutch companies, knowledge institutions and government organisations. Within two years, more than 25,000 medical products were delivered to 65 locations.
The public-private partnership model that emerged from this initiative continues to form the foundation of TFHC’s approach today.
“We do not start with a Dutch solution that we then try to export,” explains Micha van Lin, Director of TFHC. “We first look at the specific needs of a healthcare market and then identify the right Dutch organisations to address them.”
Opening the right doors
This approach is also central to a multi-year public-private programme developed by TFHC and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) to support Dutch Life Sciences & Health companies seeking to expand into the United States, with a particular focus on Texas and California.
For an individual scale-up, gaining access to major hospitals, investors or regional innovation ecosystems can be challenging. By bringing companies together as part of a Dutch delegation, TFHC helps them open doors through public-sector partners and established international relationships that would otherwise be much harder to access individually.
During a mission to California in April, Dutch companies gained valuable insights into pilot programmes, investments and reimbursement at Cedars-Sinai.
A subsequent mission to Dallas and Houston was scheduled for late September. These activities go beyond simply exchanging business cards. Long-standing cooperation with Texas Medical Center has resulted in the establishment of the Netherlands BioBridge. The first cohort of twelve Dutch companies was scheduled to begin the TMC accelerator programme in autumn 2026.
“International collaboration is increasingly becoming a two-way process,” says Van Lin. “Countries such as India now have substantial medical technology sectors of their own. The Netherlands can also learn from markets that, due to their scale, have been required to organise healthcare more efficiently and cost-effectively.”
TFHC currently has more than eighty partners and organises over fifty events worldwide each year.
On 23 September 2026, the network celebrated its thirtieth anniversary during the World of Health Care in Rotterdam, bringing together more than 150 Dutch stakeholders and forty international delegates.
For scale-ups looking to grow internationally, a strong product is only the starting point. Local knowledge and access to the right network are equally important.
As Van Lin concludes:
“International growth starts with understanding where your solution truly adds value and getting the right people around the table.”
Become a TFHC Partner!
Want to know how TFHC can support your international journey? Discover the benefits of becoming a TFHC Partner and explore how we can help your organisation grow internationally.
Phone: +316 82 39 04 68
E-mail: info@tfhc.nl
