Baden-Wuerttemberg’s medical technology industry is specialized in the development and production of innovative surgical instruments, orthopedic solutions and diagnostic systems. The close relations maintained to the health care system are offering numerous opportunities for development and are a basic precondition for practical technological solutions related to medicine, health and social affairs.
The medical technology industry produces innovative technological solutions for medical use. These include, for example, flexible endoscopes for minimally invasive surgical procedures or implants made of metal. But also high-tech robotic systems, life support systems, prostheses and developments in the field of telemedicine are produced in this sector. The Medical technology industry employs both, experts from precision engineering and micro-optics as well as specialists from microsystems engineering, information, software and biotechnology.
In recent years, medical device companies from Baden-Wuerttemberg, in cooperation with hospitals and other medical providers, have established a dense network of suppliers and customers. With more than 600 companies, the southwest of Baden-Wuerttemberg is one of Europe's leading locations for medical technology. The sector comprises international large-scale manufacturers such as the Aesculap AG and the Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG as well as numerous small and medium-sized businesses.
Baden-Wuerttemberg's research landscape is well positioned and includes four university hospitals and a large number of applied research institutions. The most important and renowned institutions are the German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the four medically-focused Max Planck Institutes. Supporting the national networking in the health sector, the state agency BIOPRO Baden-Wuerttemberg GmbH plays a particular role as driver for innovation. The medical technology industry is a leading growth sector of vital importance in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Interfaces of relevance for the development of innovative medical technology products are IT-based solutions, further progress in miniaturization and new developments in the biotechnology sector.