Day TwoWednesday, 30 April 2025

The medtech industry, like much of healthcare, has historically been the focus of criticism related to gender imbalance. The underrepresentation of women in the medtech world has led to inequity, with the medical needs of women not receiving the funding and research they deserve, and generic technologies being insufficiently tested on female populations leading to complications. However, there have been some fantastic inroads made in recent years thanks to some excellent initiatives. These inroads will be discussed in depth along with conversations on what more is needed from the sector to ensure women receive proper representation on the medtech stage.

• Role of communities and societies in increasing gender balance
• Next steps in ensuring female representation is here to stay
• Advances in femtech, addressing traditionally female medical needs

Ideas and technology are undoubtedly crucial in bringing a medtech solution to market, however, arguably as important is the leadership team assembled to drive the technology through development and to market. Hear from investors and medtech company CEOs as they discuss why a strong leadership team is so important, and the successful strategies they have seen employed to build the team.

• The value of a strong leadership team when targeting milestones in the journey to commercialisation
• The value of a strong leadership team when investors are doing their due diligence
• Relinquishing the reins, knowing when to look for a new CEO
• The benefit of experienced executives

Clinical trials can signal a pivotal moment in the growth of a medtech startup, proving safety and efficacy whilst providing a springboard to success in the journey to commercialisation. Our panel of medtech leaders discuss winning strategies to get the most out of your clinical trials and to ensure your technology is safe for all.

• Strategies for satisfying the requirements of multiple regulatory boards in a single data set
• The role of vulnerable/underrepresented groups in clinical trials
• Approaching clinical trial planning as part of a long-term strategy

Much has been made of the role of artificial intelligence, not just in healthcare but universally across industries. With headlines of virtual doctors and specialists being replaced by machines, it is only natural that AI is generating significant buzz within the space. Though arguably more important than the high-level game changing AI technologies are those not seen by the general public, the uses of AI which can improve workflow and optimise efficiency. Our panel of medtech AI experts and investors discuss the technologies they are most excited about and the future of AI in the medtech industry.

• A holistic view of AI in medtech, and where AI can go in the near future
• Navigating new AI regulatory guidelines
• Patient and general population trust of AI and the impact that has on usage
• Uses of AI as an administrative tool

With the medtech world finding itself in a capital scarce environment much has been made of medtech companies’ ability to diversify revenue streams as an opportunity to generate greater revenue, and also as a way to de-risk potential investment from venture capital companies and strategic partners. This panel of investors and medtech executives discuss the pros and cons of diversified revenue and strategies for entering new markets or therapeutic areas.

• Investor insights into diversified revenue streams
• Ensuring revenue streams are sufficiently aligned
• The danger of spreading resources too thin • Strategies for effective diversification

With a new UK government pledging to make Britain a “powerhouse for life sciences and medical technology”, and separate regulations from EU MDR on the way, could the UK soon be the place to be for medtech startups in Europe? Our panel of medtech experts discuss the role of the NHS in the medtech landscape and strategies to maximise the chances of adoption.

• The role of NICE and the NHS Innovation Centre
• Strategies to ensure good market fit
• The role of AI in healthcare systems
• Barriers to adoption

Universities, particularly in the UK, have established themselves as integral pieces of the medtech landscape. We will discuss the role they play in greater detail, as well as discussing strategies to make the most of the support universities can provide

• The importance of universities in UK medtech innovation
• The role of universities in Europe in protecting innovation
• Strategies to maximise the support offered by university programmes