CrossCare 2024: 19 innovation tracks, 38 partners & +€2.5 million in grants

Since 2016, the CrossCare program has supported companies and healthcare organizations engaged in the development of innovations for the Flemish and Dutch healthcare and welfare sectors. The year 2024 was particularly active for the program, with no fewer than 19 new CrossCare innovation projects launched. As the lead partner of CrossCare, LiCalab takes great pride in this achievement.

CrossCare has long been recognized as a prominent initiative in the Flemish and Dutch healthcare innovation landscape. Established in 2016, the program has evolved into a unique funding initiative specifically designed for SMEs from Flanders and the Netherlands. Within CrossCare, companies not only receive essential financial support but also benefit from active guidance provided by both Flemish and Dutch healthcare living labs. LiCalab is one of the eight participating living labs in this project and also serves as the central coordinator of the initiative.

In 2023, CrossCare 2.0 was introduced as a slightly revised version of the original CrossCare concept. Throughout 2024, a total of 19 projects have been approved under this initiative, amounting to a total funding allocation exceeding 2.5 million euros. These 19 projects involve the collaboration of 38 SMEs and/or healthcare organizations, four of which are based in the province of Antwerp: Studio 55 (Edegem), Zorggroep Orion (Turnhout), Co-Medic (Wilrijk), and Moonbird (Antwerp).

At the end of 2024, an additional CrossCare call for proposals was launched. The final selection of applications will be conducted in early February 2025. Subsequently, approximately eight additional projects are expected to join the CrossCare partnership.

All relevant information regarding this new wave of projects and ongoing initiatives can be found at www.crosscare.eu. Furthermore, this newsletter provides detailed insights into two specific CrossCare innovation projects in which LiCalab is currently playing an active role as a healthcare living lab.

Finally, the scale of the project is further underscored by the array of financial contributors supporting CrossCare. INTERREG Flanders-Netherlands serves as the principal funder, alongside the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, VLAIO, the Province of Antwerp, the Province of East Flanders, the Province of Zeeland, among others.