Editor Ian Bolland picks out what he’s looking forward to as the Med-Tech Innovation Expo returns.
Two days, three conference stages and thousands of visitors, it really is good to be back. If you don’t know where to begin when it comes to Med-Tech Innovation Expo, then I am here to try and give you a couple of pointers on our conference stages away from simply searching the A-Z of our exhibitors and speakers.
The Introducing Stage:
As pointed out on our preview episode of The MedTalk Podcast, if you don’t really know where to start, then the Introducing Stage might well be for you; as it contains quick-fire presentations that last up to 20 minutes, with an agenda covering an incredibly broad spectrum of the industry.
Our two-day programme covers topics including artificial intelligence in medtech, project planning, developing new products, assembling medical devices; meaning there is something for everyone covering different parts of the supply chain.
One particular event I am looking forward to on Day 2 is Pitch@Med-Tech Innovation Expo. This event is sponsored by NIHR, SBRI, NHS England and NHS Improvement and will offer you the chance to see presentations from six promising start-ups in the industry before a panel of judges.
As we have focussed on start-ups a lot in the past year or so, both in the magazine and on the website (as well as being a judge on the event itself), I’m really looking forward to seeing what ideas and products these bright minds present.
Separate to this, but on a similar subject, on the show floor you can find more this kind of thing in our start-up zone – something which I will be hoping to check out over the course of the two days.
The Healthtech Stage:
Here we focus on finished medical devices; from conception right through to their commercialisation as expert OEMs will look at research and development, clinical trial processes, regulatory hurdles, and materials used.
With 14 presentations across two days, it’s hard to just pick one or two but I will give it a go! A couple that stand out for me include Clennell Collingwood from TTP plc discussing what is needed for a device to be successful in the future.
Having previously seen the device in person, I’m also interested to hear about the development of Sky Medical’s Geko Device, as Matthew Watts will discuss about bringing that to market. Having been developed to improve blood flow and help prevent DVTs, I’m interested to hear what goes into making this wristwatch-sized device, and the kinds of patients it can be used on now, and in the future.
The Med-Tech Innovation Conference – in association with Medilink
Here is where you will hear high-level thought leadership from some of the most well-known names in the sector including KPMG, Cleveland Clinic and Innovate UK, as well as speakers from NHS England and NHSX among others.
A couple of sessions catching the eye include Dr Neil Ebenezer from the Department for International Trade who will talk about the UK government’s support for medtech exporters on Day Two. As the economy recovers from COVID-19 in a post-Brexit environment, this a timely and necessary issue to cover as businesses look to maintain and grow their footprint in overseas markets.
On Day One, I’m also very interested to hear from Dr Ashton Harper from Roche Diagnostics, who will talk about IVD Innovation. Diagnostics and home testing is something that more of the population has become accustomed to over the last 18 months or so, and it will be interesting to hear about the advances made in the sector, as well as how it can help tackle a variety of conditions.
What else is going on?
It’s worth mentioning that this year Med-Tech Innovation Expo will be running alongside other Rapid News Group events: TCT3Sixty – focussing on the understand of the potential of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology – and Interplas, the UK’s leading plastics industry event.
If you’re planning a three-day stay in Birmingham, once Med-Tech Innovation has concluded, there is still some medtech to offer on the show floor of our other two shows.
BioCote will be showcasing the latest in antimicrobial innovations at Interplas and how they can be used in medical device materials, while Kistler – who featured in an earlier edition of the magazine – will highlight their manufacturing process monitoring systems. Kistler has seen a significant uptick in interest from medtech in their medical compliant versions of their systems since late 2020.
At TCT 3Sixty, you will have numerous suppliers to the medical device industry. In an interview for this magazine, one company told me they went to a previous show for a 3D printer so they can develop their anatomic models for surgical training in-house. That’s just one example of its imprint on medtech.
Examples of those featuring on the show floor include TRUMPF, who’ve recently supplied Smithstown Light Engineering – based in Shannon, Ireland – with a 3D printer to expands its manufacturing capabilities to support the medical device sector in the country. Regular readers of Med-Tech Innovation News will have come across 3D Systems, who have developed medical devices and anatomic models, Ultimaker which made its network available to hospitals and healthcare networks as the world began to grapple with COVID-19.
