(01/2023) Ambiguous assessment of the Medica trade fair in Düsseldorf: Compared to the previous year, the number of exhibitors has increased by almost 50 percent to around 4,500 from 70 nations and the number of visitors by 35,000 to 81,000. However, both values are well ahead of the Corona level in 2019, when over 5,500 exhibitors and 121,000 visitors were reported. However, Messe Düsseldorf is satisfied with this "extremely vital" development for Medica and the supplier fair Compamed (around 700 exhibitors) in view of the "constantly tense general conditions".
A variety of innovations for modern outpatient and clinical care was offered - including all components, products and processes for their development and production. The proportion of international trade visitors was 75 percent, with trade visitors primarily from South Korea, the USA, India and North African countries being represented after European countries.
It has become clear that medical technology companies in a dynamically changing market environment want to offer tailor-made solutions for clinics and the outpatient sector across national borders. To this end, they increasingly rely on cooperation in production, marketing, sales and after-sales services. The Medica Tech Forum, organized by the industry association Spectaris and the cluster initiative Medical Mountains, offered an overview of relevant medical technology topics such as product approval, certification or national markets.
Idoven from Spain won the start-up competition with a cloud-based, AI-supported platform for ECG analysis. The range of other innovations presented by start-ups at Medica ranged from a palm-sized system for wireless monitoring of unborn babies to contour-adjustable ultrasound heads and solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI).
Trends among exhibitor nationsAn MTD analysis of the exhibitors and visitor numbers for 2019, 2021 and 2022 shows that the number of Medica exhibitors is currently almost half (46%) more than in 2021, but still 19 percent below the pre-Corona value 2019. It is interesting to look at the development of the top 5 nations: China has increased significantly compared to the previous year to 656 (+253%), but is still 38 percent below 2019. Germany ranks second with 599, 15 percent more than the previous year , but 33 percent below 2019. They are followed by the USA with 348 (+37/-19%), Italy 331 (+24%/-9%) and South Korea 313 (+19%/+12%).
At Compamed, the German share is outstanding with 226 of 697 participations; followed by the USA with 75, Switzerland with 56, France with 41 and Japan with 40 exhibitors. Compamed had 495 exhibitors in 2021 and 793 in 2019.
Economic climate for the industry is weakeningThe general economic situation is depressing the mood in the medical technology industry. Although sales are increasing slightly, the earnings situation is clouded by higher costs. Despite the challenges, the Spectaris association expects sales to be weaker in 2023
