Crises do not stop at national borders—and neither should safe healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic, floods and cyberattacks have shown how quickly supply chains can be disrupted. Even small but indispensable components, such as adapters for ventilators or anaesthesia machines, can become critical bottlenecks. This is precisely where ResilientIS comes in. The project strengthens the resilience of hospitals in the German-Dutch border region and creates structures that enable critical components and selected medical devices to be supplied quickly, safely and as locally as possible during a crisis.
At its heart is a cross-border network of hospitals, universities and companies. Together, the partners identify components that are essential to healthcare provision, develop standardised and validated digital designs, and test methods for rapidly producing spare parts through additive manufacturing when supplies run short. Digital twins, shared data structures, quality controls and a legally robust “Crisis Licence” framework ensure that solutions are not only technically viable, but also safe and transferable. Training and practical trials firmly embed the new processes in healthcare delivery.
ResilientIS is supported by a strong German-Dutch consortium. University Hospital Münster (UKM) is the lead partner, responsible for overall coordination. Its certified 3D-printing process also gives UKM a central role in prioritising, manufacturing and testing critical components. Together with Radboud University Medical Center, the main clinical partner in the Netherlands, UKM is laying the foundation for coordinated cross-border processes that comply with the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR).
The consortium brings clinical practice, science, technology and industrial implementation together. Its partners contribute expertise in patient care, additive manufacturing, materials testing, digitalisation, design and simulation, quality assurance and regulatory approval. Reference hospitals test the process chains under real-world conditions, ensuring that the solutions meet the demands of both everyday clinical practice and exceptional crisis situations.
Digital infrastructure is another major focus. The partners are developing standardised data structures, modular digital twins and interfaces so that validated component data can be shared across borders and integrated into existing hospital systems. These are complemented by quality-monitoring methods and clearly defined testing and approval procedures. Regulatory and industrial expertise helps transform proven prototypes into safe, reproducible and scalable solutions for healthcare delivery.
The particular strength of ResilientIS lies in this combination of expertise: clinical experience, research, additive manufacturing, digitalisation, quality assurance and regulatory knowledge are brought together across national borders. The result is more than a technical solution—it is a lasting resilience network that enables hospitals to respond to crises more quickly and in a coordinated manner.
ResilientIS therefore makes a tangible contribution to more stable healthcare in Germany and the Netherlands. Treatments remain easier to plan when supplies are disrupted, unnecessary patient transfers can be avoided, and available capacity can be used across borders. In this way, joint preparedness becomes a shared capacity to act—for a more resilient healthcare system throughout the border region.
