Health Campus Limburg becomes hub of innovation in healthcare

Health Campus Limburg will be the epicentre of innovation and digitisation in healthcare. That is the ambition formulated by POM Limburg in the master plan of Campus Diepenbeek, which it developed together with partners Province of Limburg, the municipality of Diepenbeek UHasselt, UCLL, Hogeschool PXL, Confederatie Bouw Limburg and LRM. The new Health Campus Limburg building complex forms the impressive entrance to the new site in Diepenbeek. Because of its social and economic importance, healthcare is one of the spearhead sectors of the Limburg economy. At Health Campus Limburg, interdisciplinary cross-fertilisation between education, research and business lies at the heart of innovation.

Health Campus Limburg is one of the two new themed campuses on Campus Diepenbeek. POM Limburg worked out a master plan for this, in cooperation with the partners involved. The ambition is high: Health Campus Limburg will be the epicentre of innovation in healthcare. And that is no coincidence.

Gedeputeerde voor Economie en voorzitter van POM Limburg Tom Vandeput: "The healthcare sector is a crucial sector in the Limburg economy. Almost 1 in 5 Limburgers is employed in it. What the past corona year proved more than ever is the social importance of quality care. And what's more: thanks to the digitalisation of care, we could all live five years longer."

Limburg has a unique healthcare and welfare ecosystem.

"This makes our province an ideal testing ground for digital innovations, which we want to encourage even more. Health Campus Limburg will be our 'lighthouse location' for this, close to the university and knowledge institutions and with direct connections to other campuses and care or welfare locations."

 

View of Campus Diepenbeek
Not only in terms of content, but also spatial ambitions are high. Literally even: the tall buildings of Health Campus Limburg form the impressive gateway to Campus Diepenbeek.

Deputy Tom Vandeput: "This makes the Health Campus the face of the site to the outside world. A few buildings stand out: especially the gateway on University Avenue, which forms the campus entrance and gives access to the entire site."

A pedestrian bridge connects that gatehouse to the surrounding parking buildings.

Tom Vandeput: "The three new buildings along the new feeder road will be developed in phases. As on the entire site, we are applying the principle of 'doing more with less space'. So we are mainly focusing on densification, softening and concentration of volumes."

 

Spatial health test
Health Campus Limburg literally breathes health.

Deputy Tom Vandeput: "We are expanding the existing natural landscape and integrating greenery and water on the site. We also provide numerous sports and exercise facilities around the campus buildings. And we have the ambition to build as energy-neutral and circular as possible, taking into account the surrounding natural landscape. In this way, we applied a health test spatially at Health Campus Limburg as well."

Between the buildings, there is also space for demonstration.

"For example, research results from campus residents can be exhibited," said Tom Vandeput.

 

Innovative cross-fertilisation
The Health Campus brings together various disciplines. To this end, POM Limburg, UHasselt and LRM work together within the Health Campus Limburg.

Deputy Tom Vandeput: "The substantive focus is mainly on new technological developments, digital solutions and transmural collaborations for the entire healthcare sector, both primary and secondary. Business, education, research and community-building: these are the basic ingredients of innovative cross-fertilisation. We encourage closer ties between the business community and governments, knowledge institutions, healthcare institutions and independent healthcare providers. That way, companies in the digital healthcare economy can develop to their full potential. Limburg plays a pioneering role in this."

 

Connecting from Limburg
The development of a healthcare ecosystem is also encouraged beyond the provincial borders, by establishing connections with other relevant Belgian and foreign companies and start-ups.

 

Commissioner for the economy Tom Vandeput: "At Health Campus Limburg, players from the healthcare sector can go for advice, but also for office space to further develop their products and services." Space is also provided for healthcare-related events. "We can use the infrastructure for symposia, specialised fairs, hackathons and workshops. Health Campus Limburg will become the reference point for digicare, in Flanders and beyond."