From left to right and from bottom to top: Adrien Dufour (CEO of Clinique Saint-Luc Bouge), Arthur Meuleman (Ph.D. candidate and researcher at UNamur), Annick Castiaux (Rector of UNamur), Christophe Plompteux (Director of Purchasing and Coordinator of Quality and Sustainable Development), Anna Renneson (CSL Bouge CSR Project Manager), Anthony Simonofski (Professor at UNamur and academic advisor for the project), Morgane Belin (Head of Corporate Sponsorship at UNamur), and Fabian Dehanne (Staff Member in the Executive Management Office at Clinique Saint-Luc Bouge). 

Through its MINDIT (Management of Information and Digital Transformation) center, which is part of the Namur Digital Institute, UNamur will lead a program dedicated to “Twin Transformation,” which combines digital transformation and sustainable transition in healthcare. Supported by the Clinique Saint-Luc Bouge, this research aims to develop innovative solutions that benefit patients and staff in the hospital sector. This is an issue that affects the entire healthcare system both in our country and internationally. 

A Major Challenge for Health Care Systems

Globally, as well as in Belgium, the healthcare sector accounts for about 5% of greenhouse gas emissions. If it were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter of CO₂ in the world. Without structural changes, its carbon footprint in Belgium could grow by more than 60% by 2050, with hospitals accounting for more than half of these emissions.

At the same time, healthcare facilities are accelerating their digital transformation: digitized patient journeys, electronic health records, artificial intelligence, automation, and decision-support tools. The Twin Transformation aims to bring these developments together so that digital technology can fully contribute to the environmental goals of healthcare organizations.

In practical terms, the Twin Transformation combines digital transformation and sustainable transition so that they reinforce one another. In healthcare, it involves making digital technology more resource-efficient and using it to reduce environmental impact, while improving the quality of care.

Research Conducted by UNamur to Benefit Real-World Applications

The project centers on a doctoral dissertation on the governance and implementation of Twin Transformation in hospital information systems. Conducted at MINDIT under the supervision of Professor Anthony Simonofski, the research will involve close collaboration between a doctoral researcher and the teams at Clinique Saint-Luc Bouge.

The research will identify the organizational, managerial, and technological levers that enable the integration of environmental considerations into digital projects. In particular, it will address governance, digital frugality, the impact of information systems, the involvement of frontline staff, and decision support.

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Anthony Simonofski

Hospitals are investing heavily in digital technology, but environmental considerations are too often addressed separately. Our goal is to offer governance models and tools that enable users to link these two issues, resulting in high-performing, responsible, and sustainable information systems.

Anthony Simonofski Professor of Digital Transformation at UNamur, Co-Chair of the NADi Institute, and Academic Advisor for the project

Ultimately, the project will produce tools, methods, and recommendations that can be applied to the Belgian hospital network and beyond: all hospitals face the same challenges worldwide. 

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Arthur Meuleman

This research offers a unique opportunity to examine how healthcare institutions can incorporate sustainability into their digital decision-making and develop solutions that can be implemented in the field and subsequently transferred to other organizations in the sector. 

Arthur Meuleman Ph.D. student and researcher

A partnership based on a shared vision, dedicated to healthcare in Wallonia

This project will be integrated into UNamur as part of a new Chair dedicated to the topic of Twin Transformation. This Chair will help foster a research momentum on the Green Health System and the dual digital and sustainable transformation as major societal challenges. It will serve as an interface between academic experts and practitioners in the field to collaboratively address these challenges. In particular, the Chair will facilitate the development of scientific activities related to Twin Transformation, such as study days, conferences, and scientific symposia during the 2026–2030 period.

At the Clinique Saint-Luc in Bouge, issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility have been a focus for several years. Various initiatives have been implemented, such as the installation of solar panels, active mobility policies, the expansion of vegetarian meal options, and various discussions regarding healthcare practices. Supporting this academic research project is part of Clinique Saint-Luc Bouge’s commitment to advancing discussions on the sustainable transformation of the healthcare system.

At the Saint-Luc Bouge Clinic, we are convinced that digital and environmental transformations must now be considered together. Our commitment to this chair reflects our desire to support research grounded in the realities of the hospital setting—research capable of yielding concrete, responsible, and sustainable solutions. By combining UNamur’s scientific expertise with the experience of our teams, we aim to actively contribute to the evolution of practices in the healthcare sector. 

Adrien Dufour General Manager of the Saint-Luc Bouge Clinic

For UNamur, this partnership reaffirms its role in conducting research to address major societal challenges.

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Photo d'Annick Castiaux

This collaboration demonstrates UNamur’s commitment to partnerships that support the transformation of our society. We are proud that our researchers’ expertise enables us to help address this major challenge in healthcare alongside a partner committed to environmental and digital transitions. 

Annick Castiaux President of the University of Namur
Learn more about the NaDI Institute and the MINDIT Center