How can a university medical center keep up in a world where artificial intelligence evolves at lightning speed? And how do you make sure that technology finds its way into clinical practice safely, responsibly and fast? These are strategic challenges that Bart Scheerder works on at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). In this role, he helps shape the future of AI in healthcare and, through the UMCG Innovation Center, acts as a knowledge partner to exquAIro. His vision is clear: “AI isn’t a toy for tech enthusiasts. It’s technology that is set to transform healthcare in the years to come. Through smart technologies and automation, we will augment future healthcare professionals and let them focus on the things they find important: delivering the best medical care and having meaningful interactions with patients.”
From clinical trials to data science
Scheerder has been with the UMCG since 2003. His career began in clinical trials, first as a monitor and later as clinical project manager, working in early phase drug development. “I managed the ‘first in human’ study and the follow-up studies for a drug that actually made it to the market. That doesn’t happen often, so it was really special to be part of that,” he recalls. The fast-paced environment was fascinating, but Bart realized he was more drawn to pioneering and developing new partnerships than to managing projects.
That led him to move into business and partnership development, with an initial focus on biobanks such as Lifelines. Biobanks are collections of data and biological samples, stored for future research. “We set up a knowledge and expertise center to help other organizations build biobanks, mostly outside the EU. After a few years, I noticed that the data-science side of those biobanks interested me far more than the blood and urine samples” he laughs. Over time, Scheerder became a specialist at the intersection of data science and AI, and really accelerated on that topic around the time when OpenAI (ChatGPT) received its billion-dollar investment from Microsoft in 2019.
AI for society as a whole
“In the early days, data science was something for nerds and math wizards,” Scheerder says. “Now, AI truly belongs to society as a whole. I’m certain that everyone that reads this article at some time will have thought about what AI means for them, their organization, their profession, their community.”
At the UMCG, he helps explore how AI and digitalization can support strategic goals such as improving job satisfaction, reducing administrative burdens, and streamlining processes. “AI isn’t a goal in itself. It’s a key enabling technology that helps us realize our ambitions.”
Scheerder works within the UMCG Innovation Center, is part of the Data Science Center in Health, and contributes to the Applied AI program within the IT department. “We have a unique innovation pipeline that runs from idea to impact. I don’t know of any other organization that has arranged the adoption of generative AI so effectively.”
“AI isn’t a goal in itself. It’s a key enabling technology that helps us realize our ambitions.”
Bart Scheerder
A knowledge partner to exquAIro
Bart’s connection with exquAIro began during the COVID period. “Because I work at the interface between public and private data-science initiatives, it was a logical step to get involved. From the UMCG, we wanted to understand where the technology was heading: not just in research, but also in daily clinical practice.”
He describes his role as advisory and connective: “I’m not one of the trainers, but I help ensure we keep a clear vision of where the UMCG leads in applying AI in healthcare. exquAIro provides an inspiring learning environment for that, and it brings together some of the most talented professionals I know and provides them with the ultimate AI knowledge boosts.”
The AI Factory: bridging research, healthcare and technology
At the same time, Scheerder serves as quartermaster for the AI Factory for UMCG. Funding for the AI Factory was recently approved and it will become the most advance supercomputer of the Netherlands and will have a center of expertise on AI attached to it. “My mission from the UMCG is to develop large scale projects that can leverage the opportunities that this unique infrastructure offers,” he explains. “We want to make sure that healthcare organizations, researchers, and companies in the healthcare sector can connect seamlessly.”
The AI Factory funding was officially confirmed on October 10th: the European Union is investing over €71 million in the project. Together with contributions from the Dutch government and the Economic Agenda of Nij Begun, the total investment will reach about €200 million.
The expert center will be located in Niemeyer, the former tobacco factory in Groningen, a development by MWPO in collaboration with Campus Groningen. Here, education, research, industry, and government will work together to develop AI applications that drive social and economic progress.
“It will be a highly impactful organization,” says Scheerder. “The AI Factory will play a key role in technological sovereignty. It’s where knowledge, technology, and entrepreneurship come together to shape the AI future of our region, the Netherlands and Europe as a whole.”
Human dimension crucial
Scheerder emphasizes that the human dimension remains crucial: “AI can take over a lot of tasks, but the conversations between doctors and patients will always matter. It’s about alleviating the burden of administrative work so professionals can focus again on the human side of care.”
He sees AI as a new colleague we have to get to know: “If we do that well, this colleague can help make healthcare better, smarter, and more human.”
Get in touch
“The pace of change is incredible,” Scheerder concludes. “That’s exactly why we need to keep connecting with one another and I’m always open to that.” Do you work on AI in healthcare at the UMCG, or do you want to learn more about the new AI Factory? Feel free to reach out to Bart Scheerder (b.scheerder@umcg.nl).
About Meet exquAIro
In this series, we meet participants, partners, and pioneers who are building bridges between biomedical science and artificial intelligence. Their stories show how collaboration, curiosity, and technology come together within the exquAIro network.
Source text: exquAIro (author Marlies Schipperheijn)
Photographer: Chris Bonis