Back to the future?
Ian Bolland reflects on the start of the year in medical technology in the UK, and bids farewell.
When first putting together this issue of Med-Tech Innovation News, my Twitter (no Elon, I’m not calling it X) feed in the early days of January lit up with government cabinet members celebrating the great opportunity that awaits businesses in the UK joining the Horizon Programme. Sorry, re-joining.
I had earlier said in a piece on the website that it was a good move from government for the UK to be back in the Horizon Programme – a grown up move following several years of populist, childish squabbling. Yet it stuck in the craw a little when a substantial number of those who advocated for Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, subsequently shifting the goalposts to claim a mandate to withdraw from any initiative or institution that had any variation of the word “Europe” in the title – were those celebrating this news.
It serves as a reminder of the uncertainty and lost time and talent that has been a signature of recent years because of playground politics. Speaking of which, it is an election year in the UK, with opinion polls suggesting the public will be voting for a change in government. If that is the case, one would hope that an ejection of the incumbents will see a return to sanity, allowing industry, and businesses such as in this sector to have a more certain environment to operate in and make it easier to trade with neighbouring nations.
That’s not to say a change in government will be the silver bullet to all the challenges facing manufacturers and other businesses involved in medical technology. There are challenging economic conditions still being faced, the manufacturing outlook in the UK is not exactly optimistic as one report indicated the sector shrank for the 17th consecutive month with optimism hitting a 12-month low at the start of January – and on a wider scale, economic statistics suggests the UK economy entered recession towards the end of last year.
On a separate note, this will be the last time I will be adorning these pages, so apologies to those who miss my musings, but after the best part of four years editing this title, and five-and-a-half years at Rapid News, it’s time for a change from writing about all things medical technology in an editorial capacity.
It has been a great pleasure covering this industry. I knew close to absolutely nothing on Day One walking into this job – some of you may suggest I don’t know an awful lot now – but it has been an eye opener covering this industry during one of the most tumultuous times in human history with a pandemic and seeing how much a force for good the sector can be. It’s been, and still is, a really exciting time to be a part of it.
I’m sure the next editor will have loads of fun with you all, and I’m very excited for the journey they will be going on with you.
For those wondering if I’ll still be involved in medical technology. Yes, in a way, on the other side of the fence! You might well see me at Med-Tech Innovation Expo 2024. So, this might not be goodbye, just au revoir.