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<p>Nedap is one of the companies that joined the AI Hub East Netherlands in its early stages. Originally a Dutch equipment manufacturer, the company has increasingly focused in recent years on developing and applying software, with AI playing a key role. “You need five things for successful AI implementation: technical expertise, domain knowledge, data, funding, and entrepreneurship.”</p><p><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/XP_0_Enf_Ssc_AJ_So_Uz_QGE_6u_XW_Ej_Fnz_Eksz_Gsn_H_Ip_Mr_M_8847a5a300.jpeg" alt="XP0EnfSscAJSoUzQGE6uXWEjFnzEkszGsnHIpMrM.jpeg" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_XP_0_Enf_Ssc_AJ_So_Uz_QGE_6u_XW_Ej_Fnz_Eksz_Gsn_H_Ip_Mr_M_8847a5a300.jpeg 235w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_XP_0_Enf_Ssc_AJ_So_Uz_QGE_6u_XW_Ej_Fnz_Eksz_Gsn_H_Ip_Mr_M_8847a5a300.jpeg 500w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_XP_0_Enf_Ssc_AJ_So_Uz_QGE_6u_XW_Ej_Fnz_Eksz_Gsn_H_Ip_Mr_M_8847a5a300.jpeg 750w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_XP_0_Enf_Ssc_AJ_So_Uz_QGE_6u_XW_Ej_Fnz_Eksz_Gsn_H_Ip_Mr_M_8847a5a300.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1066"></p><p>From a Fitbit for cows and an access control tag to smart language technology for healthcare (more on that later): examples of AI applications abound at the company’s impressive headquarters in Groenlo. Nedap calls itself a technology company through and through, and was one of the pioneers in the development of RFID in the 1970s. That contactless communication technology is now used on a large scale worldwide, including in the public transit chip card.</p><h2>From Hardware to Software</h2><p>Director Ruben Wegman: “As a device manufacturer, we were good at putting things together. We still do that, but we’ve increasingly shifted from hardware to software. Artificial Intelligence plays a major role in that.”</p><blockquote><p>Entrepreneurship is essential for creating valuable AI projects—Ruben Wegman, CEO of Nedap</p></blockquote><p>Wegman argues that several elements are needed to make AI practical. “First of all, you need to know what you’re talking about when it comes to AI—you need sufficient technical knowledge. In addition, domain knowledge is important: you need to understand in detail what’s going on in a specific market. Without sufficient usable data, you’re nowhere, so that’s a third requirement. Financial resources are also important. And finally: entrepreneurship. You must be able to develop scalable propositions and valuable projects.”</p><h2>The Hub as a Hub</h2><p>According to Wegman, the AI Hub East Netherlands should help organizations complete this set of elements. “What is missing from an organization or project, and how can we fill that gap? The hub must establish the right connections for that. It must become a one-stop shop, a hub. Many entrepreneurs need a local support center like this—an accessible place that gives you access to the rest of the AI ecosystem—all the way to Brussels. Moreover, the hub brings academia and the business community closer together. We’re noticing that professors are finding their way to us more and more, simply because the AI hub is being talked about in the market.”</p><blockquote><p>Professors are increasingly finding their way to our company, simply because people are talking about the AI hub—Ruben Wegman, Director of Nedap</p></blockquote><h2>Technology in Healthcare</h2><p>In recent years, Nedap has become increasingly market-driven. Rather than focusing on what they’re good at, they develop solutions based on what’s needed. There are no layers of management, but rather a great deal of freedom and responsibility for employees. They’re also not “overly organized” by theme, as Wegman puts it. “We’ve become less and less domain-specific and more and more hybrid.”</p><p>However, the technology company has identified several market segments, of which Healthcare is a key one. Data science manager Thomas Markus: “There is increasing pressure on specialized staff in healthcare. This can be addressed partly through the right training programs and partly through technology.”</p><p>One example is the “Ons Wondzorg” app, which is used to monitor wounds. “A wound nurse can use our app to take photos and analyze the wound, instead of having to describe it. The app monitors whether the wound is healing properly and indicates whether it’s necessary to consult a specialist. Leaving that analysis to technology saves time and creates space for more attention and better care, both for the patient and the specialist.”</p><h2>Identifying Trends</h2><p>Natural Language Processing (NLP) is also being used more and more frequently in healthcare. Markus: “There’s a lot of data in healthcare systems, but it isn’t always entered in a structured way. By making that data more accessible, healthcare organizations can more easily identify trends. For example, whether the number of diabetes patients or people with dementia is increasing or decreasing, whether care needs are well distributed across teams, and what other automatically identified developments may be related to this.”</p><blockquote><p>AI is a huge help in improving healthcare, both for patients and healthcare professionals—Thomas Markus, data science manager</p></blockquote><p><br>Finally, here’s an example of the smart language technology for healthcare mentioned earlier, called FutureType. “It’s a tool for text prediction in reports and patient records. Just as Google makes suggestions for your internet search based on a few characters or words, FutureType does the same for complex medical texts. The suggestions are partly based on a person’s healthcare profile, in a privacy-preserving manner.” In the short time the system has been in use, doctors and nurses have had to type no fewer than two million fewer words thanks to the self-learning system. “That saves time and reduces the risk of errors.”</p><h2>Setting Boundaries Without Limitations</h2><p>In short: AI helps improve healthcare. According to Wegman, all five components must be present for successful implementation here as well. “When it comes to usable data, that’s where the challenge lies. As my colleague just mentioned, there’s plenty of data in the healthcare sector, but due to privacy concerns, not all of it is actually available. That’s typically an area where the hub—and especially the overarching Dutch AI Coalition—can make a difference. Together, we can create the conditions and define the frameworks. We need to set boundaries without unduly restricting innovation.”</p>

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<p>Nedap is one of the companies that joined the AI Hub East Netherlands in its early stages. Originally known as the Dutch Apparatenfabriek, the company has increasingly focused in recent years on developing and applying software, with AI playing a key role. “You need five things for successful AI implementation: technical expertise, domain knowledge, data, funding, and entrepreneurship.”</p>