20 EIC-funded medtech companies at MEDICA 2022 and the EU trade fairs push for commercialisation
- ›From 14 to 17 November 2022 twenty EIC-funded medtech SMEs, startups and scaleups exhibited at the EIC Pavilion during MEDICA 2022 in Düsseldorf.
- ›The pavilion showcased innovations across digital care, imaging, diagnostics, laboratory equipment and medical devices and included a preparatory workshop for participants.
- ›A high level panel at MEDICA TECH FORUM featured Andreas Lymberis of EISMEA who framed trade fairs as part of the EIC role in backing commercialisation and new funding models.
- ›The event sits within the EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0 which runs through 2022 and 2023 and offers selected EIC beneficiaries places at international trade fairs to accelerate market entry.
- ›Organisers report audience scale with more than 81,000 visitors from 70 countries and over 5,000 exhibitors at MEDICA 2022, but trade fair presence is not by itself proof of long term commercial success.
20 EIC-funded medtech companies at MEDICA 2022 and what it means for commercialisation
Between 14 and 17 November 2022 the European Innovation Council supported a visible delegation of 20 EIC-funded small and medium enterprises at MEDICA 2022 in Düsseldorf. The EIC Pavilion grouped startups and scaleups with medtech solutions spanning digital care, novel substances, imaging, diagnostics and healthcare IT. The pavilion was one element of a larger EU effort to help innovators translate research and early investment into export opportunities and industrial partnerships.
MEDICA 2022 at a glance
MEDICA is one of the largest annual trade shows in healthcare. Organisers reported more than 81,000 visitors representing 70 countries and over 5,000 exhibitors across the global healthcare value chain. The show typically combines product launches, live demonstrations and sector networking that can produce partnerships and commercial leads for exhibiting companies.
The EIC Pavilion and the companies present
The EIC Pavilion assembled 20 EIC-funded medtech companies selected through the EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme. Participants benefitted from exhibition space together with preparatory coaching and a one-day online briefing covering market context, logistics and business services ahead of the trade fair.
| Company | Country |
| AcouSort | Sweden |
| Applied Nanolayers | Netherlands |
| Biohope | Spain |
| Cercare Medical | Denmark |
| EVERSENS | Spain |
| FluoGuide | Denmark |
| Genomtec | Poland |
| INGENIARS | Italy |
| Kiversal | Spain |
| Lab-on-Fiber | Germany |
| Medical Simulation Technologies | Poland |
| MediSieve | United Kingdom |
| Mode Sensors | Norway |
| MTM | Italy |
| Novus Diagnostics | Ireland |
| Positrigo | Switzerland |
| SPARK-TECH | Poland |
| STAB VIDA INVESTIGACAO | Portugal |
| TADA Group | Sweden |
| Viewpointsystem | Austria |
Panel discussion and the EIC message
At the MEDICA TECH FORUM a high level panel featured Andreas Lymberis, Head of Sector EIC Accelerator at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency. He emphasised the EIC role in backing visionary entrepreneurs and highlighted experimentation with new models for innovation funding as central to the Council's mission. The appearance signalled the EIC's intent to make trade fairs part of a coordinated commercialisation pathway for funded companies.
About the EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0
The EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0 is an EU instrument that supports EIC-funded SMEs, startups and scaleups to pursue large scale commercialisation in foreign markets. The programme aims to strengthen the EU innovation brand abroad while helping beneficiaries access new customers and partners. It builds on a pilot run in 2017 and 2018 and ran across 2022 and 2023 offering selected EIC awardees opportunities to attend 15 international trade fairs across sectoral and geographic markets.
How companies were selected and where to find more information
Participation in the OTF 2.0 programme is open to EIC beneficiaries. Selection is via open calls published on the EIC Community Platform. Applicants must demonstrate product market fit, commercialisation readiness and alignment with the trade fair objectives. External experts review and rank applications. Applicants could also consult guidance materials including an Application Dos and Donts video posted by the organisers.
Potential benefits and a critical perspective
Trade fair participation offers exposure, lead generation and networking. For many early stage medtech companies these events are an efficient way to meet potential distributors, clinical partners and investors. The EIC packages around trade fairs aim to raise the odds of follow through by providing coaching and matchmaking support.
That said, being on a pavilion does not in itself guarantee sustainable commercial success. Trade fairs can produce short term visibility that does not translate into contracts. Meaningful impact requires careful follow up, measurable KPIs and time to convert interest into regulated medical sales. Claims of immediate business success should be scrutinised and evaluated with evidence such as signed distribution agreements, pilot contracts, clinical validation or revenue figures attributable to the trade fair engagement.
How this fits into the broader EIC and EU innovation ecosystem
The OTF Programme 2.0 is one of several EIC and EISMEA instruments aimed at commercialising deep tech across EU member states and associated countries. The model pairs grant or blended finance awards with business acceleration services to bridge the gap between R&D and market scale. Since 2024 the EIC has continued to evolve trade fair support under subsequent ITF iterations that cover a wider set of sectors and regions and that reiterate the same mix of exhibitor support and coaching.
Further resources and contact points
For programme details consult the EIC OTF Programme 2.0 pages and the EIC Community Platform. Questions about participation and logistics were handled at the time through the EIC Community Helpdesk under the subject heading 'EIC OTF Programme - MEDICA'. For a broader view of the EIC trade fairs initiative see the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0 materials that describe follow up iterations and post 2022 activity.