Healthcare innovations with lasting impact
CONTINUE
Our way
The Healthcare Innovation Center (THINC.) is part of the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands (UMCU). We offer rigorous, tailored and fast research to healthcare innovators. With our portfolio of scientific services we assess and demonstrate the intended clinical improvements of an innovation for patients and healthcare systems, the added value for healthcare professionals and the potential impact for investors. As early in the innovation process as possible, we assess the mechanism of action, usability, feasibility, efficacy, implementation landscape and cost-effectiveness. We provide suggestions for further adjustments of the innovation, future research and successful implementation.
Range of innovations
We focus on digital innovations (e-Health, Artificial Intelligence), medical technology, medical devices, (international) care pathways and triage systems.
Our team
We are an active group of experts in a multidisciplinary team. We are here to design and deliver innovative ways of research, whilst working together with the innovators.
One size does not fit all
Korte, efficiënte onderzoeken op maat, gebaseerd op kennis van onder meer HTA (health technology assessment), klinische epidemiologie, usability & feasibility, public health, ethiek, eerstelijnsgeneeskunde en implementatie.
Network
Access to patient groups, test users, KOLs, healthcare professionals and healthcare costs.
Services
development phase
In this phase, the mechanism of action will be optimized. Different perspectives (i.e. healthcare provider, patient, investor) will be taken into account during the development of a prototype.
EARLY HTA
>
PAPER PROTOTYPING
>
IDEATION / DESIGN THINKING
>
PROBLEM/NEEDS ANALYSE
>
LITERATURE REVIEW
>
idea phase
Assessment of the innovation. How will the innovation impact its intended users, who are the intended users and what is the context, what should be the next step in terms of research? Which laws and regulations are relevant to this product and future studies? What are the most feasible timelines, the financial frameworks and is grant writing required?
APPLICATION IDENTIFICATION
>
CONTEXT & CURRENT PRACTICE ANALYSE
>
DEMONSTRATION OF THE MECHANISM OF ACTION
>
pilot phase
In this phase, the prototype will be introduced in the real-world setting. This enables verification of the impact of the innovation on the intended users, current practice and safety aspects. It will provide valuable input on the usability and feasibility of the innovation.
EARLY HTA
>
FEASIBILITY TESTING
>
USABILITY TESTING
>
evaluation phase
The information gathered on usability, feasibility and the economic context will gradually drive the innovation into a mature innovation. In the evaluation phase, the intended effects and impact of this innovation will be tested alongside the implementation of the innovation. This gives definitive information on the usability, cost-effectiveness and clinical impact.
HTA
>
CLINICAL STUDY
>
METHODOLOGY CLINICAL STUDY
>
implementation
In this phase, we support innovators to determine how and in which context to implement the innovation to maximize impact.
POST-MARKET SURVEILLANCE
>
Voucher
THINC. First – Voucher

You are a starting healthcare innovator who wants to make an impact in healthcare:

  • You still need CE certification.
  • You want to know the potential health and economic effectiveness of your innovation

A voucher of up to 5,000 euros is available for a THINC. First product that helps you take a first step in this direction.

Innovation of evaluation
For each innovation, we will specifically determine which type of research will deliver the most information. Information that leads towards impactful implementation of an innovation. State of the art knowledge and extensive experience in several types of research is required, because innovations strongly differ when it comes to mechanism of action, safety and the complexity of usage by patients or healthcare professionals. In other words: ‘one size does not fit all’. The past years, the scope, types and number of pragmatic studies have expanded substantially. Within THINC. we are well informed on the latest developments and we have contributed to methodological innovations in this area. This means we can offer innovative, customized advice on the optimal study design.
Projects

Minddistrict

StrokeViewer

Regenexx

Noscendo GmbH

Clear.

OLVG Bariatrie

Protocol Feasibility

Medicinfo

Bilihome

Wachtenwaard

Baby@home

Vitaly platform

Virtual Fracture Care

Scinvivo

JINSHAN

Spatium

YON E I

Cordys

Tover

PhoenixDX

Leontienhuis

Ares Analytics

STRIDE

Philips Image Guided Therapies

Quarantaine coach

spreekuur.nl

PCaVision

Haermonics Flush

FrankySpeaking

Sapien 3

WeQare

Untire

Hervitas

BreasTel®

Fast Focus

Mind Mansion

Philips Healthcare

Oncode Institute

Docly

DeltaScan

FREE Bionics

MRIguidance

Release

Safe@home

GGZ Central

NightWatch

Proton Therapy

Wind Tales

Our team
Frequently asked questions
Being a part of the University Medical Center Utrecht, we are able to participate in grant applications, provided that THINC. will deliver part of the services that is applied for. We can deliver the information needed and establish the costs associated with delivering these services. In general THINC. only participates in grants as a subcontractor.
Our products and services are tailored. Based on the information we gather in the intake meeting, such as which research suits the innovation, the nature of the innovation and the scale of the intended implementation, we can give more clarity on the pricing.
THINC. generally works with three types of clients. First, start-ups that are building a business case for one medical innovation, second, SME's that aim to bring multiple medical innovations to the market, and third, multinationals that produce medical products and services or continuously work on the improvement of medical products and services. These clients have in common that they aim to introduce innovations to the market that will bring long-term improvements to a healthcare system.
During an introduction meeting, we would like to hear more about the innovation. This enables us to assess which innovation phase is applicable to the innovation. We would like to hear more about the next steps the innovator wants to take and match these next steps to the services we offer. During this meeting we will explain our products in detail, including how much time is needed to get to research results.
Contact
English Below

Beste THINC. relatie,

Langs deze weg willen we u meedelen dat het UMC Utrecht heeft besloten te stoppen met de activiteiten van THINC. (The Healthcare Innovation Center). Dit betekent dat er na zeven jaar een einde komt aan ons werk als een science as a service organisatie.

Impact op innovatie

In de afgelopen jaren hebben we met trots meer dan 150 bedrijven – variërend van start-ups tot multinationals – een flinke stap verder geholpen in hun uitdagende innovatieprocessen.
Zo hebben we talloze innovaties geholpen met effectiever en doelmatiger worden, toetreding tot de markt, of succesvolle implementatie.

Wetenschappelijk pionieren

THINC. heeft zich onderscheiden door wetenschappelijk, kort cyclisch en multidisciplinair innovatieonderzoek. We hebben nieuwe paden bewandeld en standaarden neergezet in formats, organisatie en methodologie. We zijn er trots op dat we hebben bijgedragen aan het definiëren van de normen voor toekomstig innovationderzoek in de sector.

Dankbaar

Onze waardering gaat uit naar de zorginnovators die hun vertrouwen in ons hebben gesteld. Grote dank gaat ook uit naar alle medewerkers van THINC. Hun collegialiteit, professionaliteit en onvermoeibare inzet hebben altijd het hart van THINC. gevormd.

Bedankt voor jullie vertrouwen, samenwerking en toewijding.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Peter Gisberts
Managing Directeur THINC.

Voor verdere vragen kunt u contact opnemen met Peter Gisberts (p.g.l.gisberts@umcutrecht.nl)


----- English ------------------

Dear THINC. Relationship,

We would like to inform you that the UMC Utrecht has decided to stop the activities of THINC. (The Healthcare Innovation Center). This means that after seven years our work as a science as a service organization will come to an end.

Impact on innovation

In recent years, we are proud to have helped more than 150 companies – ranging from start-ups to multinationals – to take a big step forward in their challenging innovation processes. We have helped countless innovations become more effective and efficient, enter the market, or be successfully implemented.

Scientific pioneering

THINC. has distinguished itself through scientific, short-cycle and multidisciplinary innovation research. We have blazed new trails and set standards in formats, organization and methodology. We are proud to have helped define the standards for future innovation research in the sector.

Gratitude

Our appreciation goes out to the healthcare innovators who have placed their trust in us. A big thank you also goes to all THINC employees. Their collegiality, professionalism and tireless efforts have always formed the heart of THINC.

Thank you for your trust, cooperation and dedication.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Gisberts
Managing Director THINC.

For further questions, please contact Peter Gisberts (p.g.l.gisberts@umcutrecht.nl)
Overlay Image
English Below

Beste THINC. relatie,

Langs deze weg willen we u meedelen dat het UMC Utrecht heeft besloten te stoppen met de activiteiten van THINC. (The Healthcare Innovation Center). Dit betekent dat er na zeven jaar een einde komt aan ons werk als een science as a service organisatie.

Impact op innovatie

In de afgelopen jaren hebben we met trots meer dan 150 bedrijven – variërend van start-ups tot multinationals – een flinke stap verder geholpen in hun uitdagende innovatieprocessen.
Zo hebben we talloze innovaties geholpen met effectiever en doelmatiger worden, toetreding tot de markt, of succesvolle implementatie.

Wetenschappelijk pionieren

THINC. heeft zich onderscheiden door wetenschappelijk, kort cyclisch en multidisciplinair innovatieonderzoek. We hebben nieuwe paden bewandeld en standaarden neergezet in formats, organisatie en methodologie. We zijn er trots op dat we hebben bijgedragen aan het definiëren van de normen voor toekomstig innovationderzoek in de sector.

Dankbaar

Onze waardering gaat uit naar de zorginnovators die hun vertrouwen in ons hebben gesteld. Grote dank gaat ook uit naar alle medewerkers van THINC. Hun collegialiteit, professionaliteit en onvermoeibare inzet hebben altijd het hart van THINC. gevormd.

Bedankt voor jullie vertrouwen, samenwerking en toewijding.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Peter Gisberts
Managing Directeur THINC.

Voor verdere vragen kunt u contact opnemen met Peter Gisberts (p.g.l.gisberts@umcutrecht.nl)


----- English ------------------

Dear THINC. Relationship,

We would like to inform you that the UMC Utrecht has decided to stop the activities of THINC. (The Healthcare Innovation Center). This means that after seven years our work as a science as a service organization will come to an end.

Impact on innovation

In recent years, we are proud to have helped more than 150 companies – ranging from start-ups to multinationals – to take a big step forward in their challenging innovation processes. We have helped countless innovations become more effective and efficient, enter the market, or be successfully implemented.

Scientific pioneering

THINC. has distinguished itself through scientific, short-cycle and multidisciplinary innovation research. We have blazed new trails and set standards in formats, organization and methodology. We are proud to have helped define the standards for future innovation research in the sector.

Gratitude

Our appreciation goes out to the healthcare innovators who have placed their trust in us. A big thank you also goes to all THINC employees. Their collegiality, professionalism and tireless efforts have always formed the heart of THINC.

Thank you for your trust, cooperation and dedication.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Gisberts
Managing Director THINC.

For further questions, please contact Peter Gisberts (p.g.l.gisberts@umcutrecht.nl)