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Italy confirms its position as one of Europe’s most significant and dynamic markets in the medical device sector, with an estimated value exceeding €11 billion. This is according to the report, “The Future of Medtech: European and Global Trends in Chronic Diseases,” produced by Mind the Bridge with the support of Theras and presented at the recent Theras Day. Alongside clinical topics, the discussion also explored key economic and institutional themes, including the digitalization of care, the sustainability of healthcare systems, European quality standards, and open innovation models applied to healthcare.

“The medical device sector today represents a strategic hub for the country’s competitiveness. The integration of technological innovation, the public healthcare system, and European quality standards is key to building a sustainable model capable of attracting investment. Italy can play a leading role in Europe, provided it invests in research, training, and collaboration between industry and institutions,” stated Theras. Cristiano Ferrari, President of Theras, in his inaugural speech.

According to the report, Italy is currently the fourth-largest medtech market in Europe and one of the most promising environments for integrating global startups with the public healthcare system. More than 70 percent of medical device spending comes from public institutions, creating a regulated but stable landscape for introducing new clinical technologies. In the field of chronic and metabolic diseases alone, direct and indirect costs across Europe exceed €1 trillion each year.

A notable portion of this burden is also seen in Italy, where chronic pain represents up to 70 percent of total costs, largely driven by reduced productivity and absenteeism. Investor interest in the sector is also increasing. Funds such as Panakes Partners, Angelini Ventures, and HTH VC are expanding their medtech investments, with average deal sizes ranging from €0.5 million to €10 million, reinforcing Italy’s growing status as an emerging market for early-stage startups and scaleups.

The report also highlights a number of case studies illustrating how local partnerships can accelerate the adoption of innovative medical technologies. Among them is the open innovation model developed by Theras with US companies such as Insulet and Dexcom. In the case of Omnipod 5, the partnership with Insulet led to 87% growth in the first year and a 50% CAGR over the following three years.

With Dexcom, Italy has become one of the most advanced European markets for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), supported by a structured strategy for market access and clinical training. “In Italy, we are building a virtuous model of collaboration between global startups, clinical research, and public health,” stated Matthew Centola, Corporate Innovation Director at Theras. “The goal is to unite different ecosystems to accelerate the digital transformation of healthcare and make innovation an integral part of patients’ daily lives.”

Secondo Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, says the European context presents unique characteristics for the development of the sector: “The world of innovation remains profoundly asymmetric, with the United States continuing to dominate global medtech investments compared to the Old Continent. This imbalance, however, does not represent a weakness, but rather an opportunity. Europe boasts universal healthcare systems with over 400 million patients, generating stable and growing demand. Success in this context depends on what we call Partner Advantage, namely the ability to develop the right local partnerships that guarantee clinical credibility and market access.”