The Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) has been awarded £3.35 million in additional funding to continue developing medical device innovation and improve industry sustainability.

The MDMC is a consortium of Scottish universities, including Heriot-Watt University—where it’s headquartered—as well as the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Dundee.

The Centre provides medical device developers and manufacturers with advice, technical expertise, and the necessary facilities to help translate medical device concepts into commercial products.

The new funding, which was supplied by Scottish Enterprise, was announced by the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for the wellbeing economy, fair work, and energy, Neil Gray, who was given a tour of the facility this week.

The money will be used to help address current challenges facing organisations like the NHS, exploring the inclusion and development of degradable or reusable polymers. Designed to have reduced environmental impact, use of these polymers could help to make medical device manufacturing more sustainable.

More work will also be done on the real-time evaluation on the carbon footprint of manufacturing processes, and the safer removal of greenhouse gases in the NHS.

Additionally, further support will be be given to earlier-stage entrepreneurs in healthcare who are a part of Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Spinout Programme, a step towards closer integration of innovation in the health and care sectors.

The wellbeing economy secretary himself remarked: “This funding will not only drive innovation across the healthcare landscape, but help produce more sustainable medical devices as we continue our transition to net zero.

“Having previously supported the MDMC through the Scottish Government’s Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund, it is fantastic to see these state-of-the-art facilities continuing to encourage collaborative working.

“Innovation is a priority, and the National Innovation Strategy sets out plans to drive up our performance and compete with the best in the world over the next decade.”

Professor Marc Desmulliez, manager of the MDMC, also commented: “This significant funding from Scottish Enterprise will enable us to continue to support and elevate Scottish medical device innovation, creating new and ground-breaking medical devices with global impact.

“Scotland is brimming with entrepreneurs, but they need access to the right resources, facilities, and expertise at the right time to bring their products to market and benefit patient care.

“We believe that companies are unable to fully realize the potential value of their medical device technologies due to the high costs and limited access associated with conducting clinical investigations, consulting health economists, and utilizing cadaver models.

“This next growth phase for the MDMC will further accelerate Scotland’s offering in this crucial sector, maintaining our world-leading stance in the field of medical device creation with a renewed focus on sustainability and environmentally sensitive manufacturing techniques.”

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Since it was launched in April 2020, more than 150 SME medical device businesses in Scotland have worked with the MDMC.

Companies include Intellipalp, which is working to take its prostate cancer diagnostic device from concept to prototype, and ConfiPlus, which has been supported to take its stoma bag accompaniment that tackles leaks through the first steps towards NHS accreditation.

The MDMC can save clients up to eight months of development time, and also supports them in securing necessary investment.

Lindsay Methven, head of major programme management at Scottish Enterprise, added: “This latest award of £3.35 million from Scottish Enterprise takes our total project funding to almost £5 million and demonstrates our ambitions for MDMC and its role in transforming Scotland’s economy by helping to grow the number of entrepreneurs building stronger, scalable innovative medical technologies businesses.

“Integrating MDMC support with our Scottish Enterprise entrepreneurial services means a more seamless approach for companies to help them significantly scale up their operations and accelerate their growth journey, regardless of whether that’s launching a fundraising round, bringing innovative products to domestic or international markets, securing a first major contract, or developing or reshoring manufacturing facilities to produce their devices.”