IDE Group establishes a base for European MedTech growth in Rotterdam
Story
In 2019, Australian-founded IDE Group established its presence in Rotterdam with a deliberately lean setup. From the Groot Handelsgebouw, a single team member began exploring the Dutch market and building relationships within the life sciences & health ecosystem. That focused approach quickly paid off: a major international project followed, the local team grew to five employees, and Rotterdam proved to be the right place to build a foundation for European growth.
Today, IDE Group is firmly embedded in the Dutch – and increasingly European – life sciences & health landscape, driven by a clear mission: to help medical innovators bring their ideas to market faster and more effectively.
From idea to scalable venture
Many medical entrepreneurs have strong ideas, but lack the experience required to translate them into scalable, market-ready solutions. This is where IDE Group positions itself as a partner.
As a MedTech venture partner, IDE Group brings together strategy, design, engineering, regulatory expertise and commercialisation in one integrated approach. Depending on the phase of a project, specialised teams are deployed – ranging from software and hardware development to regulatory affairs and UX design. In this way, IDE Group supports startups, spin-offs and international companies throughout their growth journey.
South Holland and Rotterdam as a natural choice
IDE Group’s choice for South Holland was no coincidence. The region is known for its compact and well-connected innovation ecosystem. In the Rotterdam area, knowledge institutions, hospitals, investors and entrepreneurs come together with short lines and a strong culture of collaboration.
IDE Group quickly found its footing. Through networks such as Rotterdam Square and MedTech Partners, collaborations were established with organisations including Erasmus MC, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) and investment fund UNIIQ. Today, the company is involved in several national and European projects, including initiatives in the field of women’s health.
“The strength of this region lies in the willingness to support one another”
– Daan Hittema, Business Development Leader at IDE Group Europe.
Leading the way in women’s health
One of IDE Group’s key focus areas is women’s health – a domain where significant progress can still be made. Over the years, the team has built experience across a wide range of innovations, from smart wearables for pregnancy monitoring to new diagnostic solutions.
“For decades, medical research has primarily focused on men,” Hittema explains. “Fortunately, that is changing. We want to contribute to a future in which women’s health is no longer a niche, but a natural part of mainstream healthcare innovation.”
An ecosystem that grows together
IDE Group’s growth in the Netherlands has been supported by InnovationQuarter and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). From an early stage, the company received guidance on establishing its operations, identifying the right partners and positioning itself within the regional ecosystem.
“We’ve been involved with IDE Group for several years now. It’s great to see how the company has grown and now contributes to strengthening the MedTech ecosystem.
– Sasja Heijman, Account Manager Life Sciences & Health at InnovationQuarter
Creating impact across Europe and beyond
From its base in Rotterdam, IDE Group is now working on a growing portfolio of European projects, ranging from sensor-based technologies to AI-supported diagnostics. The goal remains the same: to accelerate medical innovations that make a real difference for patients.
What started as a modest landing in the Groot Handelsgebouw has evolved into a solid European foundation. IDE Group demonstrates how international companies, supported by the right partners and a strong ecosystem, can build the next generation of medical solutions from Rotterdam – with impact beyond national borders.
The original article was written by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA).
Would like to know how we can support your company? Please feel free to contact us.
