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Zorg & ICT is one of the longest-running trade fairs in the Netherlands at the intersection of healthcare and digitalisation. Each year the event draws healthcare providers, software vendors, startups and policymakers to the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, where they come together around concrete challenges in healthcare digitalisation. The edition is regarded as a barometer of the state of digital health in the Netherlands.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has taken on an increasingly prominent role on the exhibition floor and in the programme. Whereas AI was still being presented primarily as a future prospect in earlier editions, vendors are now appearing with products already in use at hospitals, general practices and long-term care organisations. Applications include medical image analysis, automated administration and clinical decision support.
For the Dutch AI and startup scene, Zorg & ICT is a relevant moment to gauge where the market stands, which procurement processes are on the horizon and which healthcare organisations are open to collaboration. At the same time, the event gives large technology companies and established health-IT players the opportunity to present new partnerships.
The content programme of Zorg & ICT is built around a number of recurring themes that preoccupy the sector. Interoperability and standardisation have been high on the agenda for years: the exchange of patient data between healthcare providers and with patients themselves remains a persistent bottleneck. Initiatives such as MedMij and the further rollout of the Basisgegevensset Zorg (BgZ) are regularly discussed and demonstrated at the event.
Alongside interoperability, the programme is increasingly focused on AI applications in clinical practice. Sessions cover topics such as how healthcare professionals deal with algorithmic support, which regulatory frameworks apply under the European AI Act, and how hospitals and care organisations structure their data infrastructure to make AI feasible in the first place.
Cybersecurity is a third pillar. Following a series of incidents at Dutch healthcare institutions in recent years, attention to digital resilience has visibly increased, both among healthcare providers and the vendors serving them.
For young companies in the healthtech and health-AI sector, Zorg & ICT offers a platform that is difficult to ignore. A large proportion of procurement professionals and IT decision-makers from the Dutch healthcare sector are in attendance, providing direct access to potential customers who are hard to reach through conventional sales processes.
Several editions have featured a dedicated startup zone or pitch programme, giving early-stage companies visibility alongside larger vendors. Whether such a format will return in the upcoming edition depends on the organisers; interested parties can consult the official Zorg & ICT website for the current set-up.
Investors active in health AI also use the event as a signal indicator: which applications are already being purchased in earnest by healthcare institutions, and which are still in a pilot or proof-of-concept phase? That distinction is relevant for assessing commercial maturity.
A notable shift in recent editions is the increased attention to regulation. The EU AI Act, which entered into force in 2024 and is being applied in phases, directly affects health AI: many clinical decision support systems fall into the high-risk category and are therefore subject to strict requirements around transparency, data governance and human oversight.
Healthcare organisations are grappling with how to assess vendors on compliance, while vendors in turn are seeking clarity on certification and liability. Zorg & ICT brings these questions together, although there is a risk that answers remain limited to theoretical frameworks pending further guidance from regulators.
The Wet elektronische gegevensuitwisseling in de zorg (Wegiz), which obliges healthcare institutions to exchange data in a standardised digital format, also features regularly on the agenda. The implementation deadlines create urgency for healthcare providers and, with it, demand for IT solutions that address these requirements.
Zorg & ICT traditionally takes place at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, generally in the spring. For exact dates, ticket information and the current programme, please refer to the official website of the organisation. Accreditation is available for healthcare professionals who wish to count their attendance towards continuing professional development.
For startups and scale-ups considering participation as an exhibitor or speaker, it is advisable to contact the organisers early: the space available to smaller companies is limited and popular speaker slots are allocated well in advance. Networking events surrounding the fair, organised by industry associations and investor collectives, offer an additional way to make relevant contacts without the cost of a stand.
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