Med-Tech
Powerhouse
The UK is home to one of the largest medical technology industries globally and as such med-tech is a vitally important industry for the UK economy, representing over half of all life sciences employment, with businesses situated across the UK and contributing billions of pounds to the economy.
As a country the UK is known for world-leading scientific research and development capabilities, and the UK health and care system is globally recognised as a successful and trusted health system, making the UK a major player on the global healthcare stage. The UK med-tech industry has an annual turnover of £27.6 billion.
The UK is also a major player in the international market, exporting over £5.6 billion of med-tech products in 2021.
The UK is an important market, and Med-Tech Innovation Expo is your route to reach it.
The UK is a prime location to identify medical technology innovation and to research, develop and evaluate products and services. In 2021, the UK made 471 medical technology patent applications - 1 in 12 of all UK patents - to the European Patent Office. This focus on emerging technology is supported by a broad range of funding and support schemes.
The UK medical technology sector is a thriving ecosystem of researchers, scientists, engineers, designers and National Health Service (NHS) clinicians. Together these specialist groups develop novel technologies from the innovation stage, through the process of design and manufacture, to the bedside in the UK and internationally.
"I think there's massive opportunity in the future, the UK is a great place for medtech for investment…there is a recognition of the importance of medtech."
DAVID LAWSON, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
"The health and wealth of the nation is on display here at Med-Tech Innovation Expo."
HEATHER HOBSON, HEAD OF REGULATION, ACCESS, INNOVATION AND GROWTH, OFFICE FOR LIFE SCIENCES
A growing number of companies are developing and manufacturing market leading medical devices right here in the UK. Smith & Nephew, Convatec, Intersurgical, Salts Healthcare, Pennine Healthcare, CMR Surgical, AstraZeneca and many more contributing to the growing GDP figure for med-tech.
The Government’s UK Life Science Vision has set a 10-year strategy for the sector, to build on the successes of the UK’s COVID-19 response and accelerate delivery of innovations to patients.
More recently and building on the broader Life Sciences Vision, A UK Med-Tech Strategy from the Department of Health and Social Care has reviewed the current UK med-tech landscape and identified and prioritised areas for action and development ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of medical technology development.
Many of the world's leading medical device manufacturers are located in the Midlands area. These include Salts Healthcare, The Binding Site, Kimal, Pennine Healthcare, Chesapeake, Smith & Nephew, Baker Hughes, GE Sensing, 3M Healthcare, Bibby Scientific, Horiba Medical, Summit Medical alongside a huge range of University Hospitals and NHS sites.
The history of med-tech excellence around Birmingham, combined with world-class air, rail and road links makes the NEC the perfect home for Med-Tech Innovation Expo.
