Our Programs
At Convergence Health & Technology, our programs bring together research, innovation and education to address complex healthcare challenges.
Our portfolio is built around two core program lines: Flagship Programs and Sustainable Health Programs. Together, these programs span the full spectrum from scientific discovery and technological development to implementation in healthcare practice and system transformation. Across these programs, interdisciplinary teams of researchers, clinicians and partners work on solutions that contribute to more sustainable, accessible and future-proof healthcare.
Education is an integral part of this approach. By embedding learning within research and innovation, we contribute to the development of a new generation of professionals who can work across disciplines and address complex healthcare challenges.
This page provides an overview of our programs.
Flagship Programs
More than 350 scientists work within the Flagship Programs to make our healthcare system future-proof. Topics range from imaging, transplantation, lifestyle and neuro medicine, but all scientists are working on making healthcare more efficient, sustainable, affordable and accessible for everyone.
These five-year programs (2022–2027) form the scientific and technological foundation of Convergence Health & Technology. They bring together expertise from multiple disciplines to develop new knowledge, technologies and approaches that can transform healthcare in the long term. In addition to Convergence funding, the Flagships have secured significant external funding and are expected to grow into sustainable research programs beyond the initial funding period.
A Lifecourse and Individual-based View on Lifestyle to Enhance Health (ALIVE)
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Convergence Imaging Facility and Innovation Centre (CIFIC)
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Consultation room 2030
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Convergence Human Mobility Center
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Healthy Joints
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iCELL / Village in a Dish
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Integrative Neuromedicine
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Organ transplantation
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Personalized, Real-Time Health Impact of Climate Change and Pollution
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Proactive Technology-supported prevention and Mental Health in adolescence (PROTECt ME)
Sustainable Health Programs
The Sustainable Health Programs focus on translating innovation into real-world healthcare practice. While the Flagship Programs primarily drive research and technology development, the Sustainable Health Programs focus on implementation, system transformation and societal impact. This includes topics such as sustainable healthcare, workforce challenges, digital transformation and organisational change. These programs work closely with healthcare providers, policymakers and partners to ensure that innovations are adopted, embedded and scaled in practice.
Education
The major challenges in healthcare call not only for transdisciplinary research, but also for transdisciplinary education. Education is embedded across our programs. Students, PhD candidates, researchers and professionals learn within real research and innovation environments, working on current challenges in healthcare, technology, sustainability and implementation. Activities range from bachelor and master courses, minors, thesis projects and internships to PhD training, workshops, e-learning and professional education. Topics include biomedical engineering, AI and data science, regenerative medicine, digital mental health, neurorehabilitation, health economics and sustainable healthcare.
We are also developing the new Research Master Sustainable Health, aimed at educating professionals who can contribute to sustainable, accessible and future-proof healthcare — including circular healthcare, prevention-driven approaches and efficient use of staff and resources.
Our education also focuses on a broader Convergence skillset: learning to collaborate across disciplines, understand stakeholders, translate research findings and address the societal, technological, economic and ecological dimensions of healthcare innovation.
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Setting up transdisciplinary education requires teamwork In this interview, Prof. Maarten Frens (Vice-Dean education Erasmus MC) reflects on the development of Convergence education, the need for new skillsets, and the challenges of building truly transdisciplinary programs. |
Earlier programs
Convergence Health & Technology was built on earlier initiatives such as the Impulse Program and Open Mind projects, which stimulated early transdisciplinary collaboration and laid the foundation for the current program portfolio.
Open Mind Projects
The Open Mind projects were the first official Health & Technology projects. Within the Open Mind projects early and mid-career researchers performed transdisciplinary research in a relatively short time span, from September 2021 to January 2022. The enthousiasm of converging disciplines was evident through the 124 submitted plans, of which 27 projects were selected. Some of these projects, sprouted from the accessible Open Mind Call, were later on incorporated within Flagship programs. You can find a selection of the 27 projects below.
The Cloud Walker: Low effort walking for people with spinal cord injury
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Towards transparent prioritisation of surgical patients in times of COVID-19
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Live monitoring at cell level during proton therapy
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‘Self-portrait’ makes medical record understandable for children
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Impulse Program
Prior to the launch of Convergence, out of responsibility as leading social organisations with a scientific position in the internationally recognised world top, Erasmus MC and TU Delft have explored opportunities for structural cooperation. As a kickstart to this cooperation, the Impulse Program was set up.
A group of 72 scientists, including 34 specially hired convergence postdocs z n started working on 17 transdisciplinary programs in June 2020 within the following research themes: Smart Instruments & Interventions and Augmenting Humans; Deep Imaging; Digital Twin; Syn-Cell for health(care); Ethics
Read about a selection of these projects below
