MedtecLIVE – the main trade fair for the international life sciences sector – was held in Nuremberg from 22 to 25 May 2023. At the heart of the show were innovative products, exciting presentations and services across the value chain in the medical industry, and it was an opportunity for a wide variety of businesses to network, make contacts, showcase their products and come together over a glass of wine and some Swiss cheese. Sound interesting? Then read on to find out what Rachel, Sales and Project Manager at MEINRAD, made of the event!
On Monday 22 May, we – that’s Rachel (Sales and Project Manager), Christian (Chief Communication Officer at MEINRAD) and Meinrad (CEO) – were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as we set off in the car to Nuremberg. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, as our alarm clocks went off really early. We didn’t hit any traffic, and after getting to our hotel we headed straight for the venue to test our practical skills and apply the finishing touches to our stand. For the three days of MedtecLIVE, Nuremberg was transformed into the mecca for the medical industry – and it’s definitely a suitable location, as it’s the city where the basic regulations for clinical studies were laid down.
A key part of our presence at the trade fair was our long-standing partner memoQ, who shared our stand with us. We quickly got everything set up, and satisfied with our work we headed back to the hotel for dinner with Ulrich Fricke, Senior Sales Executive at memoQ. It was a chance for us to get to know each other, and we were full of excitement as we chatted about the next few days.
Fuelled by a large breakfast, and well stocked with marketing materials in our bags, we were raring to go. Two large halls were host to no fewer than 397 exhibitors from 27 countries: suppliers and manufacturers of medical devices, a wide range of service providers from the life sciences sector, the IndustrialSUMMIT, a series of presentations on various subjects, and a production line demonstrating the full manufacturing cycle for a product. It was an amazing sight, and each day around 4000 visitors came through the doors. As well as a dedicated start-up area for the new kids on the block in the medical industry, the trade fair also offered guided tours, a Medical World Café for networking, and numerous talks on the main stage. And we weren’t just there – we were in the thick of the action!
While Meinrad and Ulrich manned our stand to tell visitors all about the challenges of life sciences translations and why memoQ is perfect for life sciences translation projects, Christian and I were on the move to have a look around and make contacts. Our efforts really paid off: on the first day alone, we swapped plenty of business cards and learned lots of new things. For instance, on the production line we followed the manufacturing chain for a medically sterile screwdriver from injection moulding through to final cleaning. The first day drew to a convivial close with a local beer at the stand shared with Medical Mountains, and then, tired but happy, we went to bed.
There were a few nerves on the morning of day 2, as Meinrad himself was due to give a talk on translations in the life sciences sector. And even more visitors were expected than the day before, which quickly became apparent. As on day 1, Christian and I went off to see as much of the trade fair as we could while Meinrad and Ulrich stayed behind at our stand to explain to visitors who we are and what we do. The talks covered subjects including digitalization, the future of production (which led to some extremely futuristic looking stands), regulations and transformation. It was Meinrad’s turn to give his talk at the IndustrialSUMMIT before lunchtime, on what to look out for in life sciences translations. With his winning smile, he explained to the audience that there are various factors to bear in mind in this specialist field, including the impact of the MDR and ISO certifications. A large round of applause followed, and then it was time for some serious networking – including cheese and wine tasting at the Swiss stand!
It felt like we had only just arrived, but it was now the last day of the show, and there was a slight sense of sadness in the air. After months of eager preparation, which included producing a guide to buying translations in the medical and life sciences sectors, designing flyers and brochures, and organizing the trip, suddenly MedtecLIVE was over.
In: Futuristic medical innovations, which are flourishing in the Alpine region of Southern Germany, Switzerland and Western Austria, often supported by Medical Valley EMN e. V., EIT Health or associated organizations.
Out: Panic about the MDR. Start-ups know all about the regulations and have drawn up plans to help them navigate the jungle of regulatory requirements – while larger, more established businesses often struggle to adapt to the new demands.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who visited us and to the organizers, but most of all to our partner memoQ and Ulrich Fricke. It was a pleasure – we hope to see you again in 2024!
» Click here or check out our LinkedIn page to see more of our experience at MedtecLIVE 2023. If you’d like to find out more about translation management and everything it involves, why not subscribe to our German newsletter?
Main image © MEINRAD