As part of the lecture series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Department of Physics at the University of Aveiro (Dfis-UA), Inova-Ria was represented by Pedro Roseiro, who led a session titled “Smart Medical Devices: From Lab to Market”.
The initiative brought together students, researchers and faculty members, fostering a moment of knowledge sharing on the challenges and opportunities associated with the development of smart medical devices, from research to market entry.
From European context to practical application
Throughout the session, Pedro Roseiro presented an integrated overview of the European digital health ecosystem, highlighting the growth of the global medical devices market and the role of digital transformation, particularly through artificial intelligence, remote monitoring and data interoperability.
Key European regulatory frameworks were also addressed, including the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the AI Act, emphasizing their direct impact on the development, certification and commercialization of health technologies.
From lab to market: a complex journey
One of the central themes of the presentation was the pathway required to transform research into certified medical products, underlining the complexity of regulatory processes, the need for robust clinical evidence and the challenges of market access.
The session also featured concrete examples of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and European success cases, illustrating the innovation potential and growth of this sector.
Funding, startups and the European ecosystem
The main European funding programmes, such as Horizon Europe, EU4Health and the Digital Europe Programme, were also presented, along with the growing role of startups in driving the healthtech ecosystem.
In this context, Portugal’s positioning was highlighted, including national success cases and the country’s increasing relevance in the European digital health landscape.
Challenges and opportunities
Key challenges identified include:
- regulatory complexity
- the need for robust clinical evidence
- interoperability of healthcare systems
- shortage of qualified talent
At the same time, important opportunities were highlighted, such as the growth of artificial intelligence in healthcare, the development of digital therapeutics and the role of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) as an enabler of innovation.
Bridging academia and industry
Inova-Ria’s participation in this initiative reinforces its commitment to strengthening the connection between academia and industry, contributing to knowledge sharing and helping students and researchers better understand real market challenges.
The session provided a clear perspective on the journey “from lab to market”, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach that combines technological innovation, regulatory expertise and strategic vision.
