About TU Delft
TU Delft is a leading Dutch technical university whose mission emphasises developing technology-based innovations for large societal challenges. Through its “Global Initiative” it focuses on global development issues including global health, affordable diagnostics and surgery, food security, sustainable infrastructure and clean water.
Specifically in health, TU Delft reports that more than 30% of its research relates to healthcare, involving over 600 researchers across 45 research groups.
Their strategy emphasises collaboration, co-creation with partners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and combining science, design and technology for tangible impact. | Source: TU Delft; TU Delft; TU Delft; TU Delft
Collaborations with GHH-partners
Partnerships with GHH-listed institutions are not publicly detailed, but research labs indicate global health innovation alliances.
Overview of characteristics
Activities:
- Countries / regions active & mode of work: Although based in the Netherlands, TU Delft’s Global Initiative explicitly works in developing country contexts to address healthcare-technology challenges (e.g., diagnostics for malaria/schistosomiasis) for LMIC settings. | Source: TU Delft
- Operational mode: Research, design and innovation of medical devices and health technologies adapted to LMICs; co-creation with local partners; training/education of students; knowledge transfer. | Source: BMEforGlobal Health
- Scale & reach: Over 600 researchers, 45 research groups engaged in health technology; globally oriented research and partnerships. | Source: TU Delft
Community of Practice:
- CoP1: Strengthening Health Systems
Themes & subthemes within CoP1
Themes:
- Innovation in medical technologies and devices tailored to health systems in low-resource settings
- Capacity building of local health systems via technology and design solutions
- System integration of health-technology (devices, diagnostics, surgery) within health services
Suggested sub-themes:
- Affordable diagnostics & devices for LMICs: e.g., “Healthcare for all” programme focusing on smart diagnostic tools for tropical diseases. | Source: TU Delft
- Training & equipment for surgical/clinical services in low-resource settings: biomedical engineering for global health lab designing low-cost laparoscopes. | Source: BMEforGlobal Health
- Health-system readiness & technology adoption: determining usage barriers and context-appropriate design for equipment in LMIC hospitals. | Source: BMEforGlobal Health
- Design for health system sustainability and integration: combining technology with local context and systems to ensure adoption and continuity. | Source: TU Delft
Organization type:
Knowledge institute
Available resources:
- Knowledge & expertise: Strong engineering and design research capability; experience with global-health technology design (e.g., devices for low-resource settings).
- Networks: International research collaborations, academic and industry partners, global health labs; ability to link Dutch technical/academic capacity with LMIC health-contexts.
- Influence / advocacy capacity: As a major technical university, TU Delft can bring credibility, innovation leadership and access to engineering/technology networks.
- Financial / operational capacity: Access to substantial research infrastructure, labs, design facilities; ability to train students and involve them in development projects.
- Coordination capability: Capacity to coordinate multidisciplinary teams (engineering, health, policy) and co-create solutions in partnership with global health actors and local health systems.