Topsector ICT has announced a joint matchmaking event with Topsector Life Science & Health for a call for proposals relating to Cybersecurity. The call has a budget of 2 million euros, with a maximum of 500,000 euros of funding available per proposal. The call is open to professional groups, knowledge institutions and businesses active in sensors and sensor systems, cybersecurity, medical technology, home and hospital care and home automation technology. The outcome of this matchmaking event will determine whether the call goes ahead and when it opens.
Digitalisation in health care
The health care sector is undergoing rapid digital transformation. In a short space of time, the sector has seen the rise of electronic health records, remote patient monitoring via sensors and apps, AI and machine learning being harnessed for diagnostics and treatment, and portals and personal health environments being used to provide information to patients and clients.
Health care providers are increasingly joining forces in the health care supply chain and forming care provision networks. At the same time, the shift to at-home care has carved out a place for domestic settings in the chain. Patients receiving care at home often use a combination of medical technologies, such as devices, wearables (sensors and apps) and cloud applications.
Greater awareness of cybersecurity
Devices in home and hospital settings are becoming more sophisticated and interconnected. This requires insights into and knowledge of intrusion detection and insider threat management. Many new Internet of Things (IoT) systems for patient use, such as apps and sensors, are directly or indirectly connected to a health care provider’s ICT infrastructure. At-home care settings feature a combination of devices that are controlled or owned by a health care provider and uncontrolled sensors, apps and network connections used by the consumer.
Future care delivery will be personalised and supported by technology. Hybrid care will be the norm, using technology to support patients and their next of kin while enabling professionals to deliver the right care in the right setting. Universal health coverage will be facilitated by collaborations with various sectors to develop easy-to-use, scalable and affordable technology. Crucially, the apps, devices and sensors used in the health care sector must be trusted by patients and citizens, respect their privacy and guarantee safety and security.
Range of sensors
Fall sensors, smart lamps and thermometers, cardiac rhythm sensors and body acoustic sensors are all examples of sensors used in the health care sector. Sensors detect and measure a range of physical variables such as temperature, pressure, light, movement, humidity and sound, and convert these readings into data that can be analysed and processed. Sensor data must be trustworthy and safeguarded against manipulation from its origin to its final destination. To protect their data, communications and infrastructures against malicious attacks and unintended breaches, organisations must fulfil the three primary objectives of confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Main theme of the call
At its core, the call relates to the inherent safety of sensors, ideally in the form of cybersecurity by design. This not only concerns the sensors themselves (hardware and software), but also data connections with other supply chain actors and data processing systems, the usage context and ecosystems (networks, data and the rest of the tech stack). The scope of this call also includes legal aspects (MDR, AI Act, Data Act) and, in terms of research and development, may cover autonomous systems and self-protection capabilities.
Themes
This call covers the following themes:
- Authenticity and integrity of data
- Secure communication between sensors and platforms, including digital signatures and verification of data sources
- Protection against spoofing
- Research into AI systems for anomaly detection in sensor environments
- Patient safety in home settings
- Solutions for secure connections between care systems and building management and home automation systems, including self-healing and over-the-air updates
- Smarter intrusion detection
- Research into AI systems for monitoring system behaviour and monitoring within integrated/connected care and building management/home automation systems.
The call is expected to open in June. More information about the call, deadlines and procedures will be published as soon as possible on our website.
Matchmaking event
On the afternoon of Thursday 19 June 2025, Topsector ICT will be organising a matchmaking event in Utrecht for interested parties. After the event, we will assess whether the call is viable.
PLEASE NOTE: the date and venue have been changed (originally 5 June in Amsterdam) following a request by the businesses and organisations that Topsector ICT represents.
Sign up for the matchmaking event