EIC Multicorporate Day with Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic: opportunity, requirements and technical priorities

Brussels, August 18th 2022

Summary

›The European Innovation Council invited EIC-funded innovators to apply to a multicorporate matchmaking event with Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic on 14 and 15 November 2022 in Frankfurt.
›Applications closed on 9 September 2022 and selection of participants was made by the two corporates based on business interests.
›Fresenius Kabi sought bedside-ready advances for cell and gene therapies and Medtronic listed six clinical device and digital challenges including smart operating rooms and leak detection for colorectal anastomoses.
›Selected EIC beneficiaries received bespoke pitching training, pre-arranged meetings with corporate decision makers, and support before, during and after the event.
›Applicants had to accept that application data would be shared with the corporates and that there was no feedback for those not selected.
›Practical issues for innovators include IP and data sharing, regulatory readiness for health technologies, and realistic expectations about partnership outcomes.

EIC Multicorporate Day: Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic — what innovators needed to know

The European Innovation Council organised a two day in person Multicorporate Day on 14 and 15 November 2022 at Fresenius Kabi headquarters in Frankfurt. The event was a targeted business matchmaking initiative designed to connect EIC-funded beneficiaries with decision makers from two large healthcare corporates, Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic. Applications were open until 9 September 2022 and selection of participants was the responsibility of the two corporates based on their business interests.

Purpose and scope of the initiative

The stated aim was to accelerate collaborative efforts and create commercial and development partnerships between EIC-backed innovators and the two corporates. Fresenius Kabi focuses on lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. Medtronic is a global medical technology company with product lines including implantable devices and surgical systems. The EIC framed the call around corporate challenges where both companies wanted access to cutting edge healthcare solutions that could be adopted or piloted within their businesses.

What selected companies would receive

Companies chosen to participate were offered a package of services intended to improve the chances of establishing a commercial relationship with the corporates and to prepare them to pitch and meet relevant stakeholders effectively.

Corporate challenges — overview table

Corporate	Challenge area	Short description
Fresenius Kabi	Cell and gene therapies	A platform for bedside collection, ex vivo processing and immediate reinfusion of gene modified cells to reduce manufacturing times and lower dependence on central facilities
Medtronic	Smart operating room	Training, planning and intraoperative AI enabled assistance for MIS and robotic surgeries across multiple specialties with 3D planning, digital twins and integrated OR data analytics
Medtronic	Colorectal anastomosis leakages	Early detection and patient stratification for postoperative anastomotic leaks and new instruments or intraoperative checks to secure anastomotic integrity
Medtronic	Transcatheter heart valves	Alternatives to animal pericardium for transcatheter valves using synthetic or biosynthetic materials
Medtronic	Fenestrated endovascular repair (FEVAR) for AAA	Faster and more reliable methods for graft fenestration or rapid customisation, and robust intraoperative guidance for precise deployment
Medtronic	Endovascular repair (EVAR) for AAA	Solutions to stabilise and promote controlled sac regression and neck remodelling to reduce late complications such as migration and endoleaks
Medtronic	Advanced enhanced wound healing	Adjunct technologies combined with suture devices to modulate biology and improve healing strength and regeneration to prevent complications such as incisional hernia

Selected technical priorities explained

Digital twin:A digital twin in surgery is a patient specific 3D model derived from preoperative imaging that mirrors the anatomy and, in advanced implementations, simulates tissue behavior or procedural steps. Medtronic sought digital twins to support surgical planning and intraoperative navigation, including partial registration with live endoscopic imagery to provide side by side perspectives during a procedure.

AR/VR immersive training for surgical proficiency:Augmented reality and virtual reality systems can be used to train surgical teams in minimally invasive and robotic workflows. Medtronic asked for scalable immersive solutions able to train large groups in person or remotely and to accelerate the learning curve for residents and practicing surgeons.

Robotised catheters:These are steerable catheter platforms with degrees of autonomy or advanced actuation to perform tasks such as targeted ablation or biopsy. The challenge for general, gynecological and thoracic applications is to combine navigation precision, safety and regulatory acceptability for procedures that currently rely on manual control.

Transcatheter heart valve materials:Most transcatheter valves use bovine or porcine pericardium. Medtronic expressed interest in synthetic or biosynthetic alternatives that match or exceed durability, hemodynamic performance and biocompatibility while meeting regulatory and manufacturing requirements. This is a materials engineering, regulatory and durability testing challenge.

FEVAR and EVAR improvements:Fenestrated and standard endovascular graft procedures require precise fenestrations and deployment to preserve visceral perfusion and prevent complications. Medtronic asked for technologies that reduce the time for custom graft manufacture, allow reliable physician fenestration in the operating room without material failure, and intraoperative imaging or planning tools to guide precise deployment.

Anastomotic leakage detection and prevention:Anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgery occur in a non negligible percentage of cases and are associated with severe morbidity. Medtronic sought solutions that detect leaks earlier than current averages, stratify patient risk using proven factors, or provide intraoperative checks or tools to improve anastomotic sealing.

Advanced wound healing adjuncts:Sutures and closure devices approximate tissue. The requested innovations would biologically modulate healing speed and strength through local delivery or device integrated approaches to reduce complications such as incisional hernia after major abdominal surgery.

Bedside manufacturing for cell and gene therapies:Fresenius Kabi described the need for a standardised, bedside capable platform that can collect patient cells, perform ex vivo gene modification and immediately reinfuse the product. The goal is to reduce production times from weeks to hours and to avoid dependence on specialised central facilities. This requires breakthroughs in cell separation, gene editing or modification workflows, aseptic connection systems, microfluidic handling and rapid point of care quality control under good manufacturing practices.

How to apply and selection mechanics

Applicants needed to be EIC-funded beneficiaries working on relevant healthcare innovations. Applications were submitted via the EIC portal after EU Login authentication. The form required applicants to explain how their business complied with the matchmaking event and to describe expected synergies and outcomes for a potential partnership with the corporates. Applicants were warned that the information provided would be shared with both corporates to maximise meeting effectiveness. Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic selected final participants on the basis of their business interests. The EIC Business Acceleration Services team would inform selected applicants after the process concluded. The organisers made clear that those not selected would not receive feedback or recommendations.

Application deadline and event logistics:Applications were open until 9 September 2022. The event took place on 14 and 15 November 2022 at Fresenius Kabi headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Selected participants were offered physical meetings and pitching opportunities on site.

Data sharing, confidentiality and practical cautions

The event required applicants to consent to sharing application information with the corporates. This is standard for matchmaking but raises practical issues for innovators. Corporates will review proposals to identify fit. However, sharing technical details before confidentiality agreements are in place can create risk for early stage firms. The EIC notice did not promise confidentiality protections beyond usual organisational handling and did not guarantee feedback for unsuccessful applicants. Innovators should therefore balance the need to present enough detail to secure meetings with the need to protect intellectual property and regulatory sensitive data.

Intellectual property and regulatory readiness:Health technologies face heavy regulatory and reimbursement hurdles. For device and CGT applicants, corporate interest will depend not only on technology novelty but on validation data, manufacturing and quality systems, regulatory pathway clarity and commercial viability. Applicants should be prepared to discuss freedom to operate, IP status and practical timelines for clinical validation if they want meaningful partnership conversations.

Selection outcomes, post event requirements and cancellation policy

The Business Acceleration Services team expected selected participants to complete a brief satisfaction survey shortly after the event and a business impact survey after six months. Failure to complete these surveys could result in exclusion from future EIC Business Acceleration Services. Cancellations were only considered for duly documented force majeure events and unjustified cancellations could lead to exclusion from future events. For further questions applicants were directed to the EIC Helpdesk and asked to select the event subject when contacting the organisers.

What applicants were asked on the form

The application form specifically asked: What is your business compliance with the matchmaking event? What are the expected specific synergies or outcomes for your potential business with the corporates? Applicants were informed that the information supplied would be shared with both Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic to ensure meeting effectiveness.

Context within the EU innovation system

This event fits the EIC Business Acceleration Services model which aims to bridge EIC backed deep tech companies and large corporate partners or investors. The EIC operates under EISMEA which manages the European Innovation Council and related SME support programmes. Multicorporate days are one of a range of services intended to increase the commercial impact of EU funded innovation by validating market readiness, catalysing pilot agreements and attracting private co investment. For innovators this kind of exposure can be valuable but it rarely guarantees commercial deals. Corporates often use such events to map technologies and shortlist targets for longer term due diligence.

Realistic expectations for partnerships:A meeting or pilot does not equal a supply contract or investment. Corporates typically run internal evaluations, vendor approval and procurement cycles. Health technologies face added clinical and regulatory milestones that can delay or prevent deals from progressing. Innovators should use access to corporates to test assumptions, obtain practical requirements and secure concrete next steps such as pilot terms, data sharing agreements or joint development timelines.

Final practical notes and contacts

To apply, companies were required to log in with EU Login and complete the online application form on the EIC portal. Fresenius Kabi and Medtronic selected participants and the Business Acceleration Services team would contact those selected. The helpdesk was the point of contact for further questions. Applicants were reminded to read the submission and cancellation rules carefully and to consider protection of sensitive information before full disclosure.

Surveys and exclusion risk:Selected companies needed to fill a satisfaction survey shortly after the event and a business impact survey six months later. Not completing these surveys could exclude a beneficiary from future Business Acceleration Services.