What a week it has been in Düsseldorf. From the opening to the final networking handshakes, MEDICA 2025 felt like a living showcase of what the Netherlands brings to global healthcare: practical innovation, open collaboration, and a clear ambition to scale impact internationally.
At the centre of it all stood the NL Health~Holland Pavilion, the Dutch home base on the MEDICA show floor. For four days, the Pavilion functioned as a stage, a meeting point, and a magnet for international partners seeking solutions that work in real-world healthcare settings.
Main Activities
A Powerful Dutch Presence
MEDICA 2025 brought together 78,000 healthcare professionals from around the world. The Netherlands was strongly represented, with over 90 Dutch exhibitors present. On Tuesday alone, more than 200 Dutch entrepreneurs and regional development partners visited the Pavilion and the trade fair.
Delegations and innovators arrived through partners including ROM Utrecht Region, BOM / Provincie Noord-Brabant, Health Valley Netherlands, Amsterdam Trade & Invest, GO4EXPORT, MedTech Twente, and others.
The result was not just a larger orange footprint, but a more connected ecosystem in which public and private partners moved together to help Dutch companies reach new markets, connect with decision-makers, and position their innovations internationally.
A warm thank-you goes to Health~Holland, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and NBSO Stuttgart, whose joint efforts shaped the Pavilion into a shared platform where Dutch ambition could be seen, heard, and acted upon.The result wasn’t just a bigger orange footprint it was a more connected ecosystem. Public and private partners moved together, helping Dutch companies reach new markets, meet decision-makers, and position their innovations in the right international conversations.
The Week in Motion – Day-by-Day Highlights
Day 1–2: Momentum From The Very Start
The MEDICA action started on the first day with meetings, interactions and exploring all that the trade fair has to offer. At the pavilion Dutch stroopwafels were served to offer a warm welcome to our visitors.
The second day started early. Before the trade show started, TFHC opened a networking event by BW_I together with other international partners. At the same time several busses departed to Düsseldorf, with company introductions during the sometimes three-hour drive. By the time the delegation arrived, ideas were already flowing.
On the show floor, the Pavilion quickly became the meeting point and stage for Dutch Life Sciences & Health organisations with international ambitions. After a day packed with presentations by our NBSOs, GTAI and ACCIÓ, meetings, and conversations, the Pavilion hosted the “Meet the Dutch” networking reception, drawing strong attendance and launching a week of match-making and deal-making.
The Pavilion was also honoured by a visit from Aukje de Vries, State Secretary for Foreign Trade and Development. Her conversations with Dutch entrepreneurs centered on a crucial question: How can we strengthen trade and cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany (and beyond) in Life Sciences & Health?
Her reflections echoed what many innovators shared:
- There are major opportunities for Dutch companies in MedTech, biotech, e-health, digitalisation, and remote health monitoring.
- But hurdles remain, especially regulatory pressure and administrative load.
- Support structures matter, including the role of NBSO Stuttgart and long-term investment in German-Dutch ties.
Her visit wasn’t ceremonial, it was a reminder that internationalisation works best when innovators and policy move together.
Day 3-4: Building Bridges with Minnesota MedTech
By Day 3, the Pavilion had shifted into full international connection mode. Dutch participants joined the Minnesota MedTech session, hosted by Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The session highlighted Minnesota’s vibrant MedTech ecosystem and opened doors for concrete collaboration.
After the session, the Minnesota MedTech delegation visited the NL Health~Holland Pavilion, where they were welcomed by Brigit van Dijk-van de Reijt (CEO BOM) and Peder Hatling (Medical Alley). Laura Duran (Health~Holland) then offered an overview of the Dutch MedTech ecosystem, setting the stage for direct company visits to three Dutch innovators: Holoconnects, D’Andrea & Evers Design, and Global Factories | Pharmacy Automation.
It was a perfect example of what MEDICA can do when you combine a shared Pavilion presence with targeted ecosystem storytelling: new connections formed fast, and the right people met the right solutions.
The Innovators Who Carried the Pavilion
If the Pavilion was the stage, the Dutch organisations were the show. From first meetings to the final networking moments, they demonstrated what “Dutch innovation for better healthcare worldwide” looks like in practice. With special thanks to our showcasing partners:
- City AED Nederland,
- D’Andrea & Evers Design,
- Estone Technology,
- HealthTalk.ai,
- Holoconnects,
- Essange Reagents,
- Exact Medical,
- Global Factories | Pharmacy Automation,
- Less2Care,
- MedEnvoy Global,
- Mediate Medical,
- Oxmed,
- NightWatch Epilepsy Detection,
- Plasmacure,
- Sencilia, and Sterisets International.
Together, these organisations didn’t just present products, they presented solutions with a global purpose, whether improving emergency response capacity, enabling smarter clinical workflows, advancing diagnostics, or scaling digital care.
Key Takeaways
1. Dutch healthcare innovation has strong international pull
Pavilion visitors came with concrete interest in partnerships and proof-ready solutions, not just inspiration.
2. Collaboration is the multiplier
Shared receptions, ecosystem sessions, delegation visits, and matchmaking moments proved that collective presence delivers greater impact than individual efforts.
3. Germany remains a strategic and accessible market
Discussions confirmed that, while complex, the German market offers strong opportunities when approached jointly with the right support structures.
4. The Pavilion model delivers real value
A shared Dutch platform lowers thresholds, accelerates introductions, and clearly communicates the breadth and strength of the Dutch Life Sciences & Health ecosystem.
What’s Next
Building on the momentum of MEDICA 2025, TFHC and its partners are preparing for the NL Health~Holland Pavilion at MEDICA 2026. Once again, the Pavilion will showcase the strength of the Dutch Life Sciences & Health (LSH) sector and provide a shared stage for organisations with international ambitions.
In cooperation with Health~Holland and at the request of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), TFHC will organise the NL Pavilion at MEDICA in Düsseldorf for the 16th time. MEDICA has been designated by the Dutch Topsector LSH as a strategically important exhibition, underlining its continued relevance for international market entry and collaboration.
The Pavilion at MEDICA 2026 will feature networking activities and targeted events designed to increase visibility and facilitate meaningful connections with international stakeholders across the LSH ecosystem.
Interested in participating?
Pre-registration for the NL Health~Holland Pavilion at MEDICA 2026 is now open.
Stay connected
If this week proved anything, it’s that Dutch healthcare innovation thrives when it travels together. Thanks again to all innovators, partners, and visitors who made MEDICA 2025 a success.
See you next year, with new solutions, new collaborations, and the same bright orange ambition.
Contact name: Pieter Van Beers, Project Manager
Phone: +31 6 12 76 09 68
E-mail: pieter.vanbeers@tfhc.nl
