Why is med-tech innovation so difficult?

Medical technology innovation is not only seen as an important driver of Swedish industry, but has also been assigned a central role in the development of future healthcare. Particularly important are new digital solutions that are expected to fundamentally transform the healthcare system—a transition that is necessary as healthcare needs increase while resources remain limited. At the same time, healthcare professionals are raising concerns that new digital solutions do not meet the needs of healthcare, and that new technological solutions in general struggle to gain widespread adoption within the system. In this lecture, I will first describe the concept of innovation and how innovations create value, drawing on broader research within the social sciences and humanities. I will then apply the same perspective to medical technology, with the aim of providing a more nuanced understanding of “why medical technology innovation is so difficult.” The overall purpose is to highlight the need for deeper understanding of the dynamics underlying medical technology innovation processes and a call for a more nuanced governance of innovation in healthcare.

The lecture is an obligatory teaching test for those applying for admittance as docent and it should be possible for students and others with basic academic education in the relevant field to follow it. The lecture lasts 40-45 minutes with subsequent discussion. The lecture will be given in English.