2025 in Review
Key developments, milestones and insights
2025 marked a year of strengthening and acceleration for DASH. Where previous years focused on building and positioning, this year was dedicated to further embedding data science and AI within UMCG. These are no longer experimental topics, but integral to research, education and training, and healthcare.
With the launch of UMCG’s Koers30 strategy ‘More healthy years for everyone’, the importance of data, technology & AI has been firmly established. In this context, the DASH programme (2022–2025) concluded, laying the foundation for a new 2026–2028 programme focused on data-driven innovation and applied AI for future-proof healthcare.
DASH supports the development and implementation of AI that is effective, scientifically robust and compliant, organised across five strategic lines: machine learning & AI, (clinical cohort) data, clinical applications of AI, eHealth/digital health, and Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects (ELSA).
In 2025, DASH actively addressed a critical challenge: only a small proportion of AI solutions reach clinical practice. By integrating research, technical innovation, and ethical and legal considerations from the outset, we invested our efforts into bridging the implementation gap. At the same time, other key achievements included advancing a UMCG-wide, basic AI-/digital literacy programme and securing funding, and contributing to the realisation of funding for an AI Factory in the Northern Netherlands.
This annual report highlights these efforts across three pillars: research, education, and impact, and looks ahead to 2026, where DASH will continue to drive innovation, strengthen AI- and digital literacy, and build a secure and compliant data science infrastructure in close collaboration with partners.
Michiel Hooiveld
Programme Manager DASH
DASH is (co-)funded by the sector plan for Medicine and Health Sciences, theme 'Data-driven innovation' of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.