€1.6 million for a prevention knowledge infrastructure in South Limburg
For the Regio Deal application 'Samenhang in Preventie Zuid-Limburg' (Coherence in Prevention South Limburg), an amount of over € 1.6 million has been awarded by the Regio Deal Zuid-Limburg and Parkstad. The partners involved are jointly contributing a further € 1.6 million towards co-funding. This brings the total project budget to approximately € 3.2 million. The application was submitted by the Knowledge and Expertise Center for Prevention and Vitality (UM/Maastricht UMC+) on behalf of regional partners.
The proposal outlined in the application focuses primarily on utilising, linking and applying existing knowledge on prevention and health in South Limburg. Over the coming years, the programme will enable further progress towards a region where residents can live healthier longer lives, where health inequalities are reduced and where healthcare remains accessible.
Among other things, the proposal builds on the foundations laid by the regional initiative of the same name ‘Coherence in Prevention in South Limburg’. The focus of both initiatives is linking existing structures and networks so that research, education, practice and policy can find each other more easily.
The initiative comprises two interrelated strands of development:
1. Strengthening the knowledge infrastructure (creating an overview and connections, jointly understanding and addressing questions from practice, sharing knowledge and monitoring what works)
2. Applying and learning in practice, based on current questions
Regional cooperation
The application was written by the Knowledge and Expertise Center for Prevention and Vitality and GGD Zuid-Limburg, on behalf of regional partners such as the Voorliggend Verbond, local authorities, health insurers and Burgerkracht Limburg. The above development strands are being implemented under the joint guidance of UM/Maastricht UMC+ (in consultation with the GGD) and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with a broad regional coalition.
‘Healthcare Transition Parkstad and South Limburg’
Simultaneously with this approval, a second application from Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, ‘Healthcare Transition Parkstad and South Limburg’, was also approved. This second application strengthens the collaboration between UM/Maastricht UMC+ and Zuyd by linking the Knowledge and Expertise Center for Prevention and Vitality (UM/Maastricht UMC+) and the Knowledge Centre for a Just and Healthy Society (Zuyd). This creates a powerful link between higher professional education and university education, which also fits within the regional ambition to further strengthen the Life Sciences & Health ecosystem. With this investment, the education and healthcare sectors will collaborate more closely in the coming years to train and retain healthcare professionals, accelerate healthcare innovation and further strengthen the regional knowledge and innovation ecosystem.
Together we are strong
The knowledge infrastructure is built on the extensive expertise present in South Limburg in the field of prevention and vitality. Whilst knowledge development continues within existing structures, such as academic workplaces and ‘lectoraten’, the knowledge infrastructure primarily serves to foster connections. By improving collaboration on regional topics , researchers, lecturers, students and professionals can contribute to the vitality of the people of South Limburg even more.
More information via preventievitaliteit@mumc.nl