Why UK companies are at Medica

The Association of British Healthcare Industries explains why Medica on 13-16 November offers a global platform for UK companies.

The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the official organiser of the UK Pavilion at Medica 2017. As a leading medical technology trade association, ABHI is well positioned to showcase the best in cutting-edge medtech innovation that the UK has to offer.

The event is attended by 132,000 specialist visitors from over 120 countries who use the congress as a meeting place to find out about innovations and trends within the global medical sector. This year, the event is taking place from the 13 – 16 November 2017 at the Messe Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

The global congress, a leading trade fair for the medical industry, provides UK companies with the platform to meet with distributors and buyers from around the world; to discuss business with existing contacts and meet with industry peers.

With 120 UK companies exhibiting this year, ABHI says it is excited about the diversity of technologies on display.

Paul Benton, managing director of International at ABHI, says: “It is a wonderful expression of what the industry has to offer in providing value-based healthcare solutions for patients across the globe. The UK is open for business and is keen to forge global healthcare links and Medica offers the perfect platform to do this. Leading British businesses are bringing solutions to healthcare challenges that will transform the way care is provided in the future.”

The UK is experiencing unprecedented change as it navigates its exit from the European Union. Despite this, the medtech sector remains undeterred. It continues to grow at both pace and scale, and is now worth over £17 billion to the UK’s economy. The industry remains resolute and is actively seeking opportunities post-Brexit.

With Brexit in mind, the UK government has launched an Industrial Strategy to drive the country forward. As part of this, life sciences has repeatedly been highlighted as a key area for future growth, and medtech identified as a pillar of this strategy.

Benton adds: “To support our government’s ambitions, ABHI recently became the first UK life sciences industry association to create a bespoke membership offering for international companies. The launch of the ABHI International Membership category is a direct action on the government’s call and we at the association are very excited as to the possibilities. Trade will be vital in enabling the government’s vision to become a reality.”

ABHI has, for a long time, offered UK companies a variety of support and opportunities to export globally. International Membership is making these links more accessible for international companies wishing to partner with their British counterparts.

The trade association is signposting and introducing international companies to a highly-developed network within the UK health system with a view to supporting the development of joint-ventures and distribution agreements. As well as access to written briefings, webinars and market intelligence reports, membership is underpinned by the collective expertise of ABHI’s senior leadership team and the international division of the association.