Key takeaways
MEDICA showcases global healthcare innovation opportunities
Insights span medical technology, digital health, and regulation.
NHS delegation engages in high-level collaboration
Strategic meetings explored shared challenges and future partnerships.
Global market insights strengthen client support
Broader networks and trends enhance value for healthcare clients.
Our attendance over four days at Medica in Dusseldorf, Germany in November provided opportunities for knowledge development and networking with companies, government and health system bodies, and individuals from around the world. Medica is the world’s largest medical trade fair, attracting over 5,000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors from more than 70 countries. It serves as a central hub for innovations in medical technology, diagnostics, health IT, and digital health. For us as lawyers advising clients in healthcare, life sciences, or technology sectors, Medica is significant because it is not only a showcase of cutting-edge products but also a forum where regulatory, compliance, and intellectual property issues are actively discussed.
Hosted by our partner organisation, life sciences sector experts, Medilink and the organisation behind the trade fair, Messe Dusseldorf, partner Robert McGough and senior associate Gemma Badger, were members of the first ever NHS delegation of senior executives and clinicians to visit Medica, which we helped to convene through our links with the NHS. The visit involved a curated programme of closed door round table and networking sessions spread across the four day programme which included:
meeting with delegations from the US, including former vice-presidential candidate, now Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz;
discussing mutual challenges and opportunities with senior representatives from Taiwanese government;
a private discussion with a senior representative of Siemens’ health team;
a private tour of the Hospital of the Future and wearable technology focus areas of the exhibition; and
the opportunity to discuss the evolution of the trade fair in future years with Messe Dusseldorf’s leadership team.
The other facet of Rob and Gemma’s attendance was of course the opportunity to link up with many of the companies exhibiting both on the UK Pavilion (including Scottish and Welsh companies) and more broadly across the exhibition. The breadth of products on offer is really quite astounding – from medical instruments and other basic consumables including dressings and gloves, all the way to advanced digital technologies including robotics and wearables. For the most part these are organised according to country or region, which provided the opportunity to understand the context and profile of different systems globally. For example, regions like Singapore are focussing clearly on public health initiatives and enabling individuals to take responsibility for managing and improving their own healthier life-styles and take pressure off the health system. Smaller markets, including, for example, Hungary, are active in a wide range of medical specialism, but need help and support to scale these outside of their own health system given the limitation of its size.
In addition to our own client development activity, visits to events like Medica enable us to add value to the clients we work with, in the UK and globally, through extending our networks and influence, and providing us with really relevant insights into our clients’ markets and day-to-day concerns.
