Fireside Chat on the Dutch MedTech Ecosystem and Trends in Europe

Iwan van Vijfeijken
Pulsify Medical

Over 25 years of professional experience, Mr. Iwan van Vijfeijken has led three medical device companies and worked across a broad set of industries including Medtech, Life Sciences, Semiconductors and Electronics, covering Europe, North America and Asia. He also consulted with major international companies ranging from medical devices and pharmaceuticals to electronics and semiconductors.

Pulsify Medical is developing a unique wearable ultrasound patch to continuously monitor the cardiac output. Our solution distinguishes itself from existing ultrasound techniques as it is a large-area and low-cost flexible patch, which, through a combination of hardware and software, will allow automated extraction of cardiac output, without the need for intervention by a trained professional. The patch will enable medical doctors in emergency settings such as the ICU to continuously monitor the cardiac output accurately, in a safe, cost effective and non-invasive manner. This will benefit patients, physicians as well as payers.

Jasper van Weerd
Lipocoat

Jasper van Weerd is an entrepreneurial researcher and CEO & founder of LipoCoat BV. Jasper holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical laboratory research from the Saxion University of Applied Science, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering and in PhD in supramolecular chemistry from the University of Twente. In his academic career, he performed interdisciplinary research ranging from molecular biology, tissue engineering to supramolecular chemistry and dynamic cell architectures and was a visiting researcher at Penn state. Jasper founded LipoCoat BV to translate co-invented cutting-edge lab technology from his PhD into coating products for medical devices to improve their performance, comfort and safety to positively impact society and the well-being of patients. He has raised over €6m in funding for LipoCoat and has established partnerships with various leading industrial partners leading to the first LipoCoat-coated product with CE-approval. Throughout the years he has been intrigued with tech transfer and the interplay between industry and research leading to co-founding of ScoutinScience BV – a tool that enables AI-driven technology transfer.

Steve Parente
Professor in the Department of Finance
Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair of Health Finance
Associate Dean of the Global Institute
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

Bio: From 2014-2017, he served as Associate Dean of MBA and MS programs. Dr. Parente is the longest-serving Director of the Medical Industry Leadership Institute (2006-2017). As a Professor in the Finance Department, he specializes in health economics, information technology, and health insurance.  Dr. Parente has been the principal investigator on large funded studies regarding consumer-directed health plans, health information technology, and health policy micro-simulation.  In Washington DC, he served as Chief Economist for Health Policy and Senior Economist on the Council of Economic Advisers in the Executive Office of the President at the White House in Washington, DC from 2019 to 2021. Previously, he was Senior Adviser to the Secretary for Health Economics in the Department of Health and Human Services, Vice-Chair of Academy Health, and the Governing Chair of the Health Care Cost Institute from 2013 to 2017.  He is the Founding Director of the Medical Valuation Laboratory, a nine-college interdisciplinary effort to accelerate medical innovation from scientists, clinicians, and entrepreneurs.  Dr. Parente was a health policy advisor for the McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign and served as Legislative Fellow in the office of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D‑WV) in 1992/93.  He has a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.

Thomas Gunderson

Now retired, Thomas Gunderson was a managing director and senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, following medical technology companies. In more than 20 years as an analyst, Gunderson was recognized by several industry publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Institutional Investor, Thomson Reuters and First Call. In retirement he has kept involved in healthcare, serving on the Boards of both for-profit and non-profit healthcare organizations. As an unpaid staff member at the University of Minnesota since 2016, he is currently Chairman of the Medical Industry Leadership Institute's Executives in Residence group at the Carlson School of Management  Gunderson holds a bachelor's degree from Carleton College and graduate degrees in cell biology and business administration.