A hub for health tech innovation

With a robust hospital network and leading research and knowledge institutions, Antwerp is a hub for health tech innovation. The city's international character and diverse population provide access to a broad talent pool while creating opportunities for research that reflects diverse populations and real-world healthcare needs. Combined with a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, where health tech start-ups and established players continuously develop new solutions, Antwerp offers an environment in which innovation can be developed, tested and brought to market. Antwerp's extensive health facilities, combined with state-of-the-art academic research centres such as Vaccinopolis and the collaboration with the Antwerp University Association (AUHA), demonstrate the city's strong commitment to health.

Extensive hospital network

Health has become a vital innovation cluster for Antwerp, drawing on the city’s extensive hospital network of 28 campuses, top research institutions like the renowned Institute for Tropical Medicine (ITM), the University of Antwerp, Vaccinopolis, and our ethnically-diverse population. Antwerp mainly focuses on pandemic preparedness, digital health, urban health, and medical devices. The latest addition is the ZAS Cadix hospital, located close to Park Spoor Noord. Once again, innovation and digital technology are a key focus at this facility.

Antwerp's hospitals are at the heart of one of Belgium's most dynamic healthcare innovation ecosystems. By bringing together clinical practice, academic research, and entrepreneurship, they provide an environment where new ideas are rapidly translated into tangible healthcare solutions that improve patient care.

Central to this ecosystem are Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) and the University of Antwerp (UAntwerp). Their long-standing partnership integrates research, education, and clinical expertise, enabling innovations to move efficiently from the laboratory to the bedside. This close collaboration has also led to the creation of a growing number of spin-off companies that are transforming scientific discoveries into innovative diagnostics, therapies, medical technologies, and digital health solutions.

Innovation is further strengthened through collaboration with the wider hospital landscape. UZA is part of the Helix hospital network, which brings together five hospitals across the Antwerp region to deliver integrated, high-quality care. Together with other regional hospital partners, these collaborations provide access to diverse patient populations, multidisciplinary clinical expertise, and real-world healthcare settings, accelerating the validation, adoption, and implementation of new medical innovations.

Vibrant Health Tech ecosystem

Antwerp is actively developing its smart Health Tech ecosystem, with a focus on integrating digital flows in hospitals and advancing remote healthcare. AI supports medical decision-making, diagnostics, and care planning. Dunden, Antwerp's health hub, is home to 10 digital health startups, providing affordable office space and a network of expertise. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges sets the global standard for Good Distribution Practices (GDP) for life sciences and healthcare products, with 63,000 m2 of GDP-compliant warehouses and 9,000 plugs for refrigerated containers.

Dunden

Dunden is a curated Health Tech hub and community in the heart of Antwerp, with a focus on startups and scale-ups active in healthcare & social impact.

Located in Antwerp’s beautiful Botanical Garden, Dunden offers private offices & coworking space designed to foster innovation, collaboration and connection. With a selection of different in and outdoor spaces, Dunden is perfect for private events, workshops, corporate gatherings and celebrations. In addition, an entire floor is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for both work and social interaction. It features a spacious workshop and boardroom, as well as a presentation hall with tiered seating. The flexible spaces can easily accommodate presentations, workshops, breakout sessions, networking, lunches and informal gatherings.

Dunden is home to a growing community of ambitious Health Tech companies, including Minze Health, Bingli, Idevax, Epcon and Immunewatch — alongside many other startups and scale-ups shaping the future of healthcare.

UZA

At the University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA), care is continually improved through scientific research and innovation. Collaboration is essential to advancing healthcare, and UZA works closely with a diverse network of knowledge institutions, public organisations, businesses and start-ups, each playing a key role in developments that directly benefit patient care. Together, they ensure patients gain access to the latest healthcare solutions, while contributing to a forward-thinking healthcare sector and a society that prioritises health and well-being. UZA's key partner in research and innovation is the University of Antwerp, while collaboration with clinical networks such as Helix brings research and innovation into practice.

ZAS

Two hospital networks merged in July 2024 in order to create ZAS, the largest healthcare organization in Belgium. ZAS stands for ‘Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom’ (‘Hospital by the river’), a reference to the Schelde, the river of commercial and strategic importance that defines the city. In similar fashion, ZAS plays a defining role in the region’s health care. ZAS stands for high-quality care for all patient and offers all inhabitants of the region topnotch basic care as well as highly specialized care close to home. By combining forces, ZAS is able to continue investing in care and infrastructure, in order to provide state-of-the-art care adapted to today’s and tomorrow’s needs, making it a driving force in the Belgian health care landscape. Their vision is providing warm and excellent care. Together they ensure that everyone finds their way to good healthcare....

Vaccinopolis

Vaccinopolis is a state-of-the-art facility for clinical vaccine trials, located on the University of Antwerp’s Campus Drie Eiken. Supported by the federal government, Vaccinopolis is dedicated to accelerate and sustain infectious diseases prevention and control.

The centre focuses on assessing new vaccines and monitoring disease and vaccine effectiveness. It also conducts vital research on maternal immunization and the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, Vaccinopolis plays a key role in communication and education on vaccines, aiming to increase public trust in vaccines.

Equipped with a Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) unit, Vaccinopolis allows volunteers to participate in studies simulating real-world infections, enabling more accurate and controlled vaccine trials. The facility also includes laboratories, consultation rooms, and relaxation spaces for volunteers.

With its extensive expertise, the Centre for Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV) at Vaccinopolis has conducted over 500 vaccine trials, both nationally and internationally. This facility serves as a crucial accelerator for developing a comprehensive ecosystem in vaccine research, contributing to global pandemic preparedness and response.

Institute of Tropical Medicine

Located in the heart of the Antwerp, the Institute of Tropical Medicine strengthens the city’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases and emerging health threats. Its combination of scientific research, specialised medical care, and international expertise contributes directly to the health of Antwerp’s diverse population, with a special focus on people in vulnerable situations. ITM attracts researchers, students, health professionals, and international partners, reinforcing Antwerp’s reputation as a global hub for science, innovation, and pandemic preparedness, while helping to shape a healthier, more resilient future for the city and beyond.

“

The city is not large, but the outcome of our work is great

Ann Peters - General Manager ITM

”

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Health Tech

What role will technology play in the healthcare of the future? Health Tech is one of the fastest growing trends in international healthcare. Antwerp is addressing two major smart health themes in particular: integrating digital ﬂows within hospitals and remote digital healthcare. Artiﬁcial Intelligence is also an important technology for Health Tech, as it supports medical decision-making, diagnostics, care planning and clinical workﬂows. Patients are also able to track their own health and wellbeing or be monitored remotely by doctors and there is a greater focus on preventive healthcare.

Antwerp Health Tech Connect builds on these developments by bringing together startups, scale-ups, healthcare providers, industry and innovators. The initiative aims not only to foster new connections but also to facilitate concrete health challenges. Successful collaborations can evolve into pilot projects or other forms of partnership, thereby contributing to a stronger Antwerp health tech cluster.

Good Distribution Practices (GDP) for life sciences and healthcare

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the first seaport in the world to operate across the entire logistics chain in accordance with the EU Guidelines on Good Distribution Practices (GDP), which apply to the handling of life sciences and healthcare products. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has 63,000 m2 of GDP-compliant warehouses and almost 9,000 plugs and sockets for reefer or refrigerated containers.

22.5%

Young population

22,5% are younger than 17 years and 16,3% are older than 65 years

+ 73%

total start-ups & scale-ups in 5 years

€5,9 billion total worth.
Source: Dealroom, 2026

92%

of the citizens are satisfied with living in Antwerp

and the city scores well above the EU average (88%) in non-capital European cities.

Source: European Commission Quality of Life in European Cities, 2023

Top 5 most funded sectors