Vilans at ICIC25 in Lisbon: synergising health and care

Participants shared international insights on improving collaboration between care and social support systems, making room for citizen and community engagement, and creating learning systems that can respond in a flexible way to demographic and societal shifts. There was a strong sense of momentum, driven by urgency to make care systems more inclusive, efficient and future proof.

A team of Vilans experts and researchers attended the conference. Together, they shared the Dutch experiences, and presented research findings and engaged in discussions on cross-sectoral collaboration, community-driven care and system transformation. 

Nick Zonneveld, a senior researcher, shared findings from his research on collaboration within integrated care networks. He highlighted that good cooperation is not only about bringing actors together but also about recognising their distinct roles and values. 'Who is responsible for what, and why? That depends on the unique knowledge, values and positions that the parties contribute. We need both integration and differentiation within the networks to succeed.'

Nick also joined a panel marking the 25th anniversary of the International Journal of Integrated Care, where he reflected on the role of co-produced research and the need for evidence that supports real-world transformation.

Caring communities

Marloes Berkelaar and Lian Stouthard, a senior advisor and senior researcher at Vilans, gave a joint presentation on caring communities. Lian shared 9 practical tips for successful collaboration between professionals and communities, emphasising the importance of mutual trust, shared ownership, and learning by doing. The key message: 'Stop managing and start joining'. 'Caring communities are built on the relationships between people – neighbours, volunteers, professionals. The challenge is to connect formal and informal care in ways that feel natural and meaningful to those involved.'

Marloes contributed to the presentation by introducing a framework, developed at Vilans, to support collaboration with caring communities. She also presented a poster outlining a step-by-step method to help organisations determine the appropriate scale – local, regional, or national – for organising care networks. 'It was nice to notice how our Dutch method – such as scaling frameworks and community driven approaches – really resonated with international colleagues. It shows that we have valuable experiences to share and much to gain from others too.'

Exchanging experiences

Throughout the conference, the team connected with international partners to exchange experiences, approaches and stories of change. Whether focused on technology, governance, system transformation, informal care, or community care, the sessions reflected a shared commitment towards a future where care is more synergized, inclusive, and sustainable. Nick: 'Our team had the opportunity to meet and connect with colleagues from around the world and see how they tackle similar issues. The context and the scale may differ, but the exchange is meaningful and relevant to all of us.'