The story behind the 'Ghent Healthtech Tuesdays'

In a city celebrated for its innovation and entrepreneurial spirit – a European Tech Capital – the City of Ghent partnered up.

Together with imec.istart, the City of Ghent launched 'Ghent Healthtech Tuesdays'. This quarterly event series has become a go-to platform for those shaping the future of healthcare: innovators, researchers, companies, startups, investors, sector organisations, healthcare actors and other key stakeholders. The mission? To foster idea exchange, improve collaboration and accelerate progress in the field of healthtech. 

What makes Ghent a hotspot for healthtech innovation?

It’s the perfect mix: leading hospitals, world-class universities, renowned research centres, and a booming biopharmaceutical industry. Add to that a community of entrepreneurial talent and ambitious healthcare actors driven to transform patient care and redefine health outcomes, and you’ve got a very successful ecosystem. It’s no coincidence that Ghent is home to 20% of all healthtech companies in Flanders. 

Still, something was missing – a dedicated space for all these healthtech stakeholders to connect and collaborate.  For them to break through the boundaries of their own companies and coordinate efficiently with each other. The solution? A straightforward yet powerful formula: Ghent Healthtech Tuesdays.

This all sounds peachy – but what can you really expect from an event like this?

Each edition explores a timely, relevant topic. Hosted by various community members and organizations, these events take place in vibrant locations across Ghent. Since the launch, we’ve welcomed some 470 attendees during six editions, with over 60 returning participants—you know who you are! 

Topics covered so far include:

  • The role of GenAI in medical imaging and drug discovery
  • How startups can build effective partnerships with hospitals
  • The transformative potential of photonics in healthcare
  • Navigating the complexities of Medical Devices regulation
  • Securing your first investor as a healthtech startup

Driving impact

These events are about more than just networking – they’re sparking real results. Since the start of this series, startups have secured pilot projects and commercial deals with hospitals. Some research projects have even inspired new educational programs. Moreover, investors have discovered new, promising startups and entrepreneurs have connected for the first time - even with peers from just down the street. Most importantly, countless relationships have been formed and strengthened. 

The community speaks

We asked attendees what these events mean to them, and got the following answers:

  • “It’s the place where you find the stakeholders you don’t see elsewhere.”
  • “A perfect way to stay on top of industry-relevant topics and connect with people working on them in Ghent.”
  • “It’s a space to share struggles and exchange ideas about bringing innovation to market.”
  • “Good vibes all around in this community.”
  • “A fantastic opportunity to engage with like-minded healthtech enthusiasts.”

Looking ahead: what’s next?

After six successful editions, imec.istart and the City of Ghent are preparing for four more exciting events in 2025. First up: mark your calendars for February 11th! For the 7th edition, we’re teaming up with pioneering digital health company MoveUP.

During this session, Ward Servaes (co-founder) and Bob Moens (director of moveUP Labs) will share how they navigated the healthcare and reimbursement systems. From countless pivots to overcoming market hurdles, they’ll reveal the challenges they faced and how their agility led to success in a market unprepared for digital health.

Get involved!

There’s always room to grow, and we want to reach even more stakeholders. If you haven’t joined us yet, now is the perfect time to get involved. Do you know someone who’d benefit from being part of this ecosystem? Invite them along!

Whether you’re looking to connect with industry leaders, insurers, hospitals, startups, research organizations—or maybe even your future co-founder—we’ll see you at the next event!