Graduate School of Medicine Medtech Innovation Center (MIC)
The Medtech Innovation Center provides a space for industry, government, academia, and medical professionals can collaborate organically to achieve "rapid medical device development" and "human resource development through practical curriculum using medical device development projects as educational materials. By effectively integrating state-of-the-art engineering and medical device research laboratories, shared medical device studio, co-creation labs for companies, and networking spaces for diverse industry-government-academia-medical professionals, MIC enhances its functionality and value as a comprehensive hub of collective knowledge and innovation. This aims to revitalize the medical device industry through sustained device creation and cultivating highly creative development talent.
Message
Presently, the domestic medical device market is undergoing expansion, yet it remains dependent on foreign products, with imports persistently surpassing exports. One of the factors contributing to this phenomenon is believed to be the nascent stage of medical device development, characterized by initial challenges in the field. Additionally, the lack of human resources to lead these developments has been identified as a contributing factor.
In response, Kobe University has identified the establishment of a collaborative platform as a pivotal countermeasure. This initiative aims to facilitate collaboration between industry, government, academia, and medicine, with the objective of developing medical devices that align with the demands of clinical practice and industry. In addition, the platform is expected to play a crucial role in nurturing human resources dedicated to the development of medical devices. The Medtech Innovation Center was established as a new medical device development center under the Kobe Vision for the Healthcare of Tomorrow, which is being promoted in collaboration with the City of Kobe.
We will continue to promote research, development, and education so that the center will become a new center for medical device development and human resource development at our university and in Japan.
We would appreciate your understanding of the research and educational activities of this center and your cooperation in our endeavors.
Professor MURAKAMI Takamichi,
Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine and School of Medicine
Kobe University
Despite a century-long tradition of collaboration between the medical and engineering sectors in Japan, the nation continues to experience a persistent trade deficit in the domestic medical device industry. This phenomenon could be attributed, in part, to the prevailing misconception that the development of novel medical devices can be achieved solely through collaborative efforts between the fields of medicine and engineering.
In the realm of medical device development, the medical and manufacturing fields are intricately intertwined is extremely crucial, fostering a collaborative environment where physicians, medical professionals, engineers from academic and industry backgrounds, and experts in the medical device business can engage in continuous dialogue and collaboration. In addition, it is imperative to have access to hands-on support from experts in intellectual property (IP), marketing, pharmaceutical law, insurance reimbursement, and other areas of development at any times.
Our Medtech Innovation Center (MIC) is an ideal site for medical device development, designed to realize these environments. We will continue to promote the development of medical devices with social implementation value through the fusion of medical engineering and business.
Professor YASUDA Takahiro,
Director of Medtech Innovation Center
