MedTech worth £1.6 billion to Midlands economy according to new report

A new report has been launched, which highlights the critical importance of the Medical Technologies (MedTech) sector to the Midlands economy.

The report focuses upon the nature and scale of the MedTech sector, its contribution to the regional economy, what Midlands businesses need to achieve growth, and barriers faced.

Key findings from the Midlands MedTech Sector Analysis include the following:

• MedTech contributes an estimated £1.6bn in GVA for the region annually.
• It is a driver of high productivity, with GVA per worker standing 40% higher than the Midlands average.
• There are close to 1,000 MedTech businesses operating in the Midlands – the largest number of MedTech companies in any region in the UK.
• Midlands MedTech employs 23,600 people – the second highest UK region for employment

MedTech is associated with Midlands Innovation in which the University of Leicester partners with seven other leading institutions. The partnership aims to unite the power of university research with the unique strengths of Midlands industry to drive cutting-edge research, innovation and skills development.

The report, commissioned by MI Health and supported by the Midlands Engine, was produced by the independent consultancy Hatch Regeneris Ltd. It states the case for supporting the continued need for a large-scale, fully-integrated approach to MedTech across the Midlands, developing existing critical infrastructure and opening new close-to-market opportunities.

Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Engine who funded the study, said: “Medical Technologies were identified as a strength of the Midlands in our Midlands Engine Science and Innovation Audit. This new study gives us important information about our Medical Technology businesses and highlights the importance of the sector to our region, including the impressive rate of growth being seen in this sector. Significantly, the report also shines a light on the need for a pan-Midlands approach to supporting our Medical Technologies clusters.”

Professor Mark Lewis, Convener of MI Health, said: “This report represents a ‘golden thread’ through an ambitious series of activities that will enhance the Midlands’ reputation as a global player in MedTech. This ambition builds upon world-leading regional strengths, such as our outstanding MedTech companies, a unified group of research-intensive universities and a network of engaged health and medicine professionals within our NHS Trusts. Our national assets include the £300m Defence Military Rehabilitation Centre, this has been the catalyst for the UK government’s commitment to establish a National Rehabilitation Centre on the same site. Marshalling these opportunities will enable the Midlands vision to be realised.”

The report’s conclusion reinforces the Midlands' view that the best way to achieve an integrated approach and to bring together expertise is through the Medical Technologies Innovation Accelerator (MTIA). The aim of MTIA is to harness the Midlands’ unique industrial base, patient population and academic-NHS innovation environment to create the UK’s leading cluster of excellence for development, evaluation and adoption of MedTech.

Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation, one of the funders of the report, said: “This report clearly demonstrates the importance of the Medical Technologies sector to the region. It is also very encouraging to see how experts in this sector are working together, delivering research and innovation and supporting businesses to develop and grow. The creation of the Medical Technologies Innovation Accelerator will further increase the depth of these collaborations across the region.”

Supporting sub-regional and kick-starter programmes, such as the MTIA Cluster Initiator and the region’s two Strength in Places Fund applications, will pave the way for the regional-level delivery these ambitions.