Sector plan

The Dutch Sector Plans (Sectorplannen) are a national initiative aimed at strengthening the foundation of scientific research and academic education at universities and university medical centers (umc’s). Through these plans, the Dutch government invests €200 million annually to support structural improvements in the academic system.

Sector plans are developed jointly by universities and umc’s within four major scientific domains: science, engineering & technology, social sciences & humanities, and medical & health sciences. Each sector identifies priority themes and areas where structural investment will have the greatest impact on research, education, and societal challenges.

A key goal of the sector plans is to stimulate collaboration and strategic profiling between universities and umc’s. Institutions jointly determine which areas of expertise they will focus on, enabling complementary strengths across the national research landscape. This coordinated approach strengthens both the quality and international competitiveness of Dutch research and education.

In addition, the sector plans aim to strengthen the academic workforce by creating more positions and increasing the number of permanent contracts for researchers and lecturers. This helps reduce workload and provides more stability and “room” for researchers and educators to focus on high-quality research, education, and innovation.

Within the medical and health sciences sector plan, key themes include prevention, data-driven innovation in healthcare, and the translation of fundamental research into clinical and societal impact. These themes align closely with the ambition to use data, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve health outcomes and develop more sustainable healthcare systems.

The Health, Prevention & Data Innovation Symposium is closely connected to these ambitions. By bringing together experts from umc’s, and regional partners, the symposium contributes to the goals of the sector plans: strengthening collaboration, advancing data-driven health innovation, and accelerating the role of prevention in future healthcare systems.