US life sciences accelerator ScaleHealth comes to Flanders
First established in Los Angeles (US) as an international innovation hub for life sciences companies, ScaleHealth is expanding into Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. Start-ups and scale-ups can turn to ScaleHealth as one-stop-shop service provider of business solutions. The accelerator makes sure to connect them with a wide range of stakeholders in the healthcare industry.
Mutually beneficial
“The creation of ScaleHealth Belgium connects and strengthens two major innovation hotspots for medical technology: California and Flanders,” says Claire Tillekaerts, CEO of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). “Needless to say, FIT is proud to have helped sow the seeds of this unique project through our strong network in the US.”
ScaleHealth's expansion into Flanders illustrates the international prowess of Flanders' healthtech ecosystem and knowhow. On the one hand, it's a major asset for US firms looking to expand overseas. On the other, it gives Flanders-based life sciences & health companies faster and better access to the important US market.
Housed at Orsi Academy, a medtech learning and experience center in Melle near Ghent, ScaleHealth Belgium operates as a kind of marketplace where academics, investors, sector specialists, governments, service providers as well as start-ups and scale-ups from the life sciences industry come together. The accelerator will also collaborate with existing initiatives and organizations such as MedTech Flanders, flanders.health, MedTeG, BHIC, imec and VIB.
ScaleHealth Belgium fits perfectly on the campus of Orsi Academy because of our shared DNA, as we seek to providing quality services with an open, inclusive character and an international focus on innovation.ScaleHealth Belgium fits perfectly on the campus of Orsi Academy because of our shared DNA, as we seek to providing quality services with an open, inclusive character and an international focus on innovation.
Air bridge
An air bridge, as it were, will be created between ScaleHealth US and ScaleHealth Belgium. This will give Flanders-based start-ups and scale-ups smooth access to the ScaleHealth ecosystem in the US. In turn, ScaleHealth Belgium will provide a springboard for US companies looking to expand into Europe.
The societal importance of life sciences only increase in the coming years. In order for us to remain relevant in that field in Europe, cross-pollinated innovation hubs like ScaleHealth will play a crucial role.
Companies can join the ScaleHealth community for free and gain access to a collaborative ecosystem. In addition, ScaleHealth Belgium will identify promising start-ups and scale-ups within the community, after which members of the advisory board will provide them with customized guidance.
Scale-ups are like Olympic athletes: they need to be surrounded and guided by specialists so that they focus solely on winning that gold medal.
Reported by
newspaper De Tijd, press release ScaleHealth
