Case Study: A Man-Made Blue Zone in the Netherlands

This case analysis shows how inter-organizational collaborations can lead to improvements in policymaking and real-world outcomes. It looks at how the Healthy Ageing Network Northern Netherlands (HANNN) was created as a 'triple-helix' network organization with partners in research institutes, government bodies, and businesses. 

How can more collaborations like this lead to sustainable innovation for societies?

A New Concept Of The UMCG

In hindsight, it is possible to pinpoint the concept and the critical factors that underlie the successful implementation of the Healthy aging profile in the UMCG and in the region. The concept of the new UMCG is based on four pillars of infrastructure and networks:

  1. Development of a research infrastructure;
  2. Building the Healthy aging Campus Netherlands;
  3. Establishing the Healthy aging Network Northern Netherlands (HANNN);
  4. Establishing the Alliance for Healthy aging with the Noaber Foundation, Vita Valley, and the Mayo Clinic (AHA).