Ian Bolland caught up with Filippo Mansani, head of innovation and high-technology capital goods at the Italian Trade Agency to find out more about its visit to Med-Tech Innovation Expo, along with 18 companies making up the Italian Pavilion at this year’s show. 

This year’s Med-Tech Innovation Expo will have a slightly different feel to the last year. Not simply because of the return of live events prior to the last outing, but with a strong Italian presence providing even more of an international feel to this year’s exhibition.

When explaining one of the main reasons for the decision to exhibit with such a large presence at Med-Tech Innovation Expo, Filippo Mansani from the Italian Trade Agency pointed to the established relationship between the UK and Italy when it comes to trading and co-operation in life sciences.

“If you look at the net exchange between Italy and the UK, one of the most prevalent things that you see imported and exported between us is pharma, medical and machineries.

“Medtech is one of the primary sectors for the Italian ecosystem and in our exports, especially to the UK. We have a really mature ecosystem in Italy in medtech.”

As part of this ecosystem, Mansani highlights the work that goes on in research and development from universities, and the many spinouts that emerge from these institutions. Mansani also identified that the willingness to visit this year’s show from so many companies shows an eagerness to expand beyond national borders.

“We have several clusters around the main corporates dealing with the pharma and medical sectors.

“They look at the UK as one of the main markets to start exploring potential collaborations with local partners.”

The 18 companies accompanying the Italian Trade Agency come from across the sector attempting to address different needs and may also have different aims as to what they want to get from their Expo experience.

“It’s going to be different for every company. Some of them are more well-established so I guess their target is more towards potential clients or partners, and those at the early stage might be looking more towards investor partners.” 

Four start-up companies, for example, delve into different areas. One focuses on the development of miniaturised devices to help urinary incontinence (UI), another company iVis is looking for a strategic partner to help expand its 4D Suite platform used for corneal refractive and therapeutic surgery, as well as companies that can do ad-hoc production. The start-ups within the Pavilion demonstrate the broad range of what Italian medtech has to offer. 

All the companies have brought at least one product to market in different fields. Specialisms include packaging, sterilisation, connecting manufacturers and distributors, infection control and many more.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw an urgency for certain types of medical devices and technology and Italy was no different with Mansani saying it helped accelerate the transformation of ideas into products – especially when it comes to digital health.

Referring to the sector in Italy, Mansani again alluded to the ecosystem and ideas emerging from the universities, but also the state support and initiatives that are available.

“We share research centres and the market is growing. We have really important applications for several cross-sector activities and functions within the medical, pharmaceutical and life sciences space.

“We have new funds that the government has launched during the pandemic which is also boosting venture capital. There is even more attention on the investment and corporate side and a willingness to implement new trends and new technology.”

The Italian Trade Agency has also been supporting the companies with brokerage events so they can make new connections and establish new deals and partnerships. Coming to Med-Tech Innovation Expo is an opportunity for the companies to do some good quality networking, something Mansani points out when asked what would make a successful show for the trade body and its accompanying businesses.

“These companies are looking to network and to explore new trends and how the market, especially in the UK, is moving on. Mainly it’s all about networking and exploring new trends.” 

Mansani also alluded to every region in the country having the capability to foreign direct investment strategies to attract new talents and new incentives to do business in the sector. 

Explaining the possible incentives, Mansani said: “For example, these can be start-up visas or definite investors in your company that are incorporated in one of the regions in Italy.”

He explained that similar schemes were on offer in the UK such as International Collective and Enterprise Investment Schemes. 

When alluding to the outlook and challenges faced by companies in the sector, Mansani focused on the outlook for Italian start-ups and their challenges when it comes to securing investment and highlighted one particular obstacle.

“In Italy funding is available until Series A fundraising and then companies need to explore funding avenues, opportunities, and partnerships elsewhere after that.”

As well as having the opportunity to meet with several companies from Italy, visitors will also have the opportunity to hear from the Italian Trade Agency about new trends from the country and how to access the market on Stand E10. 

The 18 companies featuring on the Italian Pavilion at Med-Tech Innovation Expo are: 

• Hakomed Italia 
• MWC 
• LED Spa
• Relief Srl
• Senosan
• Fifth Ingenium
• Viktor Electromedicali & Physio
• IRCA Spa (Zoppas Industries)
• Endotics
• Ecs Srl
• Ric3D Srl
• DM Packaging Group
• AMD Engineering Srl
• 1Flex Technology
• Food4Future Srl
• Ivis Technologies
• Biochemical System

Med-Tech Innovation Expo takes place on 8-9 June at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information and to plan your visit, visit www.med-techexpo.com.