MedTech Europe joins 125 manufacturers on a Joint Declaration on the EU Industrial Strategy

Posted on 03.03.2017

Medtech Europe has joined 125 manufacturers across industry sectors on the call for the European Commission to adopt and implement an Action Plan to tackle challenges to the industrial sectors and reaffirm its commitment to reaching a target of 20% of GDP from industry with a realistic and ambitious timeline. The Joint Declaration underscores the need for the Commission to act and help retain the EU as a competitive global actor.

In conjunction, MedTech Europe’s Serge Bernasconi also joined high level representatives at the European Commission’s European Industry Day on 28 February.Key addresses were made by Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, and Commissioners Elżbieta Bieńkowska (Internal Market, Industry, SMEs and Entrepreneurship) and Carlos Moedas (Research and Innovation).

Serge Bernasconi’s intervention highlighted the crucial importance of safeguarding SMEs in the medtech sector: “The Medtech Industry certainly appreciate the commitment of DG GROW and DG Research in supporting the environment and their co-investment in research projects, particularly in the digital field. One important thing to consider is the heavily regulated medtech industry and even more with the new medical devices and in vitro diagnostics regulations, we remain very concerned of our SMEs’ ability to succeed in such environment and would be very keen to see how the EU Commission could help them take their innovative ideas to market and patients thus creating economic and job growth in Europe.  If nothing is done then many will not survive or will have to turn to other more favorable and supportive continents. A real pity for our innovative european entrepreneurs.  Good and efficient regulation can help SMEs blossom and this should be our ambition.”