The medtech industry, which is dominated by SMEs, is currently under great pressure due to the explosion in energy, raw material and transport prices as well as the new EU regulations for medical devices and diagnostics (MDR and IVDR). The associations are therefore calling for small and medium-sized companies in particular to be better supported in the transition to MDR and IVDR through funding programs and networks for clinical data. The market launch of innovations should also be accelerated. "Germany must develop suitable instruments for method evaluation and provide companies with access to healthcare research data," said BVMed CEO Dr. Meinrad Lugan on behalf of the MedTech associations at the kick-off event.
With the "Round Table Healthcare Industry", the BMWK and the associations of the industrial healthcare industry are establishing a joint, multi-year dialog format on how the competitiveness and innovative capacity of companies can be strengthened, the location conditions in Germany improved and the industrial healthcare industry made more visible. After the kick-off event on November 23, 2022, a total of five working meetings with different thematic focuses are planned until the end of 2023.
"We welcome the fact that the federal government is involving the associations of all sectors of the industrial healthcare industry in Germany in the discussion. This also gives the medical technology sector in all its breadth the opportunity to strengthen Germany as a medtech location, make it resilient and boost its innovative strength," said the BVMed, SPECTARIS, VDDI, VDGH and ZVEI associations. The core objectives are to
- Strengthening Germany as a MedTech location in the direction of strategic resilience;
- Maintaining innovative strength by reducing the high level of bureaucracy and using healthcare data;
- Creating a climate-friendly healthcare system as part of a sustainability strategy.
The medical technology sector in Germany employs over 250,000 people. 93 percent of the companies are SMEs. Of the total turnover of over 46 billion euros, 66 percent is exported. Nine percent of turnover is invested in research and development.
More information on the sub-sectors of the MedTech industry can be found at
