FACT SHEET

Medical Technology
Clusters in Germany

ISSUE 2022/2023

Germany is Europe’s largest medical technology market
and ranks third internationally. With more than 1,450
medical device manufacturers (>20 employees) and two
thirds of revenues generated outside its domestic market, Germany's medical technology industry is thriving.
Throughout the world, products “Made in Germany” haveachieved an excellent reputation for their leadership in quality, innovation and design. The foundation of this success is awell-established collaboration between private sector companies, hospitals, research institutions, and academia.
Germany’s unique MedTech clusters
Germany is home to more than 46 cluster networks active in
medical technology. Their goal is to achieve continuous innovation in research and development as well as in manufacturing by connecting companies, hospitals, universities, andother research institutions. Dedicated cluster management
teams help obtain funding for joint R&D projects, provide
shared facilities and organize educational training programsfor their members.
Finding partners made simple
Working closely with local cluster experts, Germany Tradeand Invest (GTAI) can support international companies byidentifying and contacting partners for research and development. Most of the 30+ university hospitals are key membersof those cluster networks; making key clinical opinion leaders
an approachable part of the innovation community. Matchingpartners and service providers can also be found to assist
with product certification, reimbursement procedures andproduct development.

MedTech clusters: Benefits along the value chain

Cluster Management
Germany boasts more than 18 specialized medical
technology clusters
Hospitals

R&D Institutes

Universities

Manufacturers

Benefits along the entire value chainEducationand Training

Cooperationand Partnering

R&D Funding

Regulatory Sourcing Production Marketing

SalesLabs, Incubators
and SharedFacilities

Service→ GTAI assists international companies in setting up business operations – such as R&D centers,manufacturing facilities, and sales and service centers – in Germany. For further information and contact
details please visit us online at: www.gtai.com/medtech

Medical Technology Clusters in Germany
We provide a countrywide overview of selected clusters
and networks on regional and state-wide level. The
vast majority is recognized by the national “go-cluster”
excellence program in accordance with the guidelines ofthe European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI).

Interested companies are welcome to join one
or more clusters regardless of geographic location.
The map illustrates the location of the clusters. The
numbers refer to the corresponding numbers in thetable on the right.
ROSTOCK

Kiel
Schleswig-Holstein

Rostock

7.5

HAMBURG I SCHLESWIGHOSTEIN
Companies...................................... 500+
Universities.......................................... 38
University Hospitals............................. 2
Research Institutes............................. 14

Mecklenburg
Western-Pomerania

Schwerin

10Bremen

Companies........................................... 70
Universities.............................................5University Hospitals............................. 0
Research Institutes..............................12

2MAGDEBURG
Companies........................................... 14
Universities............................................. 1
University Hospitals...............................1
Research Institutes................................1Niedersachsen

BERLIN I BRANDENBURG
Companies......................................... 350
Universities........................................... 31
University Hospitals..............................2Research Institutes.............................40

7HanoverPotsdamDÜSSELDORF

9Companies.............................................. 46
Universities.............................................. 55
University Hospitals................................. 9Research Institutes................................ 22

Saxony-Anhalt

North RhineWestphalia

Thuringia

1314WIESBADEN16

LUDWIGSHAFEN
Companies............................................ 380
Universities................................................ 3
University Hospitals..................................2Research Institutes.................................10Companies........................................ 200
Universities............................................ 2
University Hospitals..............................9Research Institutes..............................14

AALEN

SaarlandCompanies........................................... 62
Universities........................................... 13
University Hospitals..............................3Research Institutes............................... 7

18ERLANGENBavaria

Companies............................................ 250
Universities................................................ 8
University Hospitals................................. 2
Research Institutes................................. 21

126

SAARBRÜCKENCompanies.............................................. 44
Universities................................................ 3
University Hospitals.................................. 1
Research Institutes.................................. 5

Companies............................................... 81
Universities................................................ 9
University Hospitals................................. 0
Research Institutes................................ 16

DRESDEN

Frankfurt

18

FREIBURG I. BRSG.

16

Companies................................. 60......................90
Universities................................... 1.........................3
University Hospitals.................... 3.........................1Research Institutes....................10........................ 9HessenRhinelandPalatinate

5Saxony

14JENA

Companies....................................... 1000+
Universities................................................ 7
University Hospitals................................. 2
Research Institutes................................. 12

Brandenburg

4
BadenWürttemberg

1517

NUREMBERG

STUTTGART
Companies........................................ 842
Universities........................................... 23
University Hospitals..............................5
Research Institutes..............................21

11

Companies............................................ 402
Universities.............................................. 23
University Hospitals..................................7Research Institutes.................................34
Munich

3TUTTLINGEN

KONSTANZ

Companies........................................ 400
Universities.............................................5
University Hospitals..............................0
Research Institutes.............................24

Companies......................................... 107
Universities........................................... 10
University Hospitals..............................2
Research Institutes............................. 10Source: GTAI Cluster Survey 2022

Rostock

HAMBURG I SCHLESWIGHOSTEIN
Companies...................................... 500+
Universities.......................................... 38
University Hospitals............................. 2Research Institutes............................. 14

BremenCompanies........................................... 14
Universities............................................. 1
University Hospitals...............................1
Research Institutes................................17Hanover
PotsdamDÜSSELDORF

914

BioCon Valley®

State-wide

3

BioLAGO

State-wide

4

BIOPROState-wide

BERLIN I BRANDENBURG

5biosaxony

State-wide

Companies......................................... 350
Universities........................................... 31
University Hospitals..............................2
Research Institutes.............................40

6Forum MedTech Pharma e.V.

State-wide

7

HealthCapital Berlin Brandenburg

State-wide

8healthcare.saarland

State-wide

9

innoMedState-wide

10

Life Science NordRegional11MedicalMountains GmbHRegional

12

Medical Valley EMN

State-wide

13

Medizin.NRW

State-wide

14

medwaysState-wide

15

microTEC Südwest

State-wide

16

OptoNet e.V.

State-wide

17

Photonics BW

State-wide

18

Technologieland Hessen

State-wide

Brandenburg

16

RhinelandPalatinate

LUDWIGSHAFEN

16

DRESDEN

Companies................................. 60......................90
Universities................................... 1.........................3
University Hospitals.................... 3.........................1
Research Institutes....................10........................ 9Hessen5

Saxony14

JENA

Companies........................................ 200
Universities............................................ 2
University Hospitals..............................9Research Institutes..............................14Frankfurt

18Companies............................................ 380
Universities................................................ 3
University Hospitals..................................2Research Institutes.................................10AALEN

SaarlandCompanies........................................... 62
Universities........................................... 13
University Hospitals..............................3Research Institutes............................... 7

18ERLANGEN

Bavaria

Companies............................................ 250
Universities................................................ 8
University Hospitals................................. 2Research Institutes................................. 21

126

SAARBRÜCKENCompanies.............................................. 44
Universities................................................ 3
University Hospitals.................................. 1
Research Institutes.................................. 5

Companies............................................... 81
Universities................................................ 9
University Hospitals................................. 0
Research Institutes................................ 16

2

Assistive technologies

Rehabilitation

Home care

Endoprosthetics

Orthopedics

DentalBone healing

Plasma medicine

OphthalHearing aids

Hygiene management

Robotics

Cardiology

Thuringia

WIESBADEN

FREIBURG I. BRSG.

State-wide

Saxony-Anhalt

North RhineWestphalia

13Companies....................................... 1000+
Universities................................................ 7University Hospitals................................. 2Research Institutes................................. 125-HT Digital Hub Chemistry & Health

MAGDEBURG

Niedersachsen

Companies.............................................. 46
Universities.............................................. 55
University Hospitals................................. 9
Research Institutes................................ 22

1

Mecklenburg
Western-Pomerania

Schwerin

10Companies........................................... 70
Universities.............................................5
University Hospitals............................. 0
Research Institutes..............................122

Surgical instruments

7.5

Diagnostics

Schleswig-Holstein

Medical imaging

ROSTOCK

KielDigital healthThis table helps to find the right partner in Germany:
Find your area of interest to identify clusters thatconsider this field their focus of activity.

Minimally invasive technologies

Interested companies are welcome to join one
or more clusters regardless of geographic location.
The map illustrates the location of the clusters. The
numbers refer to the corresponding numbers in thetable on the right.

Implants

We provide a countrywide overview of selected clusters
and networks on regional and state-wide level. The
vast majority is recognized by the national “go-cluster”
excellence program in accordance with the guidelines of
the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI).

Medical Technology
Clusters in Germany –Selected Areas of Activity

Scope of membership

Medical Technology Clusters in Germany

4BadenWürttemberg

1517NUREMBERG

STUTTGART
Companies........................................ 842
Universities........................................... 23
University Hospitals..............................5
Research Institutes..............................21

11

Companies............................................ 402
Universities.............................................. 23
University Hospitals..................................7
Research Institutes.................................34

The Cluster Platform and go-cluster Excellence Program
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energylaunched its “go-cluster” excellence program integrating thecountry’s strongest cluster management organizations. Whileclusters included in the go-cluster program are vanguards ofinnovation, the purpose of the program is to increase theirinternational visibility and the implementation of innovative

Munich

3TUTTLINGEN

KONSTANZ

Companies........................................ 400
Universities.............................................5
University Hospitals..............................0
Research Institutes.............................24

Companies......................................... 107
Universities........................................... 10
University Hospitals..............................2
Research Institutes............................. 10Source: GTAI Cluster Survey 2022

services. Accordingly, go-cluster offers specific services to its
individual target groups: cluster managers, cluster players andrepresentatives from government, science and business.

The European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI)The ECEI was launched by the EU Commission in 2009 as partof the European Union’s efforts to foster growth and creationof world-class clusters across the EU. The European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) was subsequently establishedin order to offer practical advice to Europe’s cluster management organizations. Today, ESCA is a network of cluster

experts from more than 30 countries that consults cluster
policy makers and promotes cluster management excellence
through benchmarking and quality labelling of clusters andtheir management organizations.

MARKET OPPORTUNITIESGermany’s MedTech Industry
Home to Europe’s largest hospital sector, Germany also
boasts Europe’s most innovative medical technology
sector – registering around twice as many patents as its
nearest European competitor country.
The medical technology industry is one of the most innovative
sectors in Germany. The country’s globally renowned university hospitals play an important role in the development andintroduction of new medical products and services – whether
as R&D partners or in the implementation of clinical trials.
Industry structure
The German medtech industry is mainly comprised of small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Around 93 percent of
all medtech companies in Germany are SMEs. They accountfor two thirds employment in the medtech sector (235,000total). There are also some 13,000 micro enterprises or sowith less than 10 employees.
Innovation driver MedTech
With around 1,400 patent applications, innovators fromGermany led the European ranking of medtech patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2021. This isequivalent to a more than twofold lead over the second mostinnovative country in the EU. Overall, medtech is the second
most innovative field of all industries in the economy, with
15,321 patent applications at the EPO.
As one third of the German medtech industry’s turnover isgenerated by products less than three years old, the shareof innovative devices is significant. According to a BVMed
market survey of 2020, cardiology, diagnostics, oncology,neurology, and surgery are the most innovative areas. To help
turn inventions into innovations, a plethora of partnering
opportunities with cluster members in industry, academia,research institutes, and clinical communities is possible.
Europe’s largest hospital sector
With almost 1,900 hospitals, and a total capacity of around
500,000 beds, Germany has the largest hospital sector inEurope. With spending already in the EUR 100 billion region,
close to 17 million patients received treatment in 2020, withan average hospitalization period of seven days. The majority of the largest hospitals are university hospitals, of which
there are a total of 36 across the country.

clinical trials. While many German hospitals have tended tobe and often remain relatively small facilities in rural areas,
there is a trend towards the expansion of midsize and large
hospitals in metropolitan areas.

Most MedTech companies in Germany are SMEs
Number of companies according to employee size
Company size (number of employees)
<50

50-99

250-499

>500

4% 2%
11%

16%

67%

Source: SPECTARIS 2022

Germany has a high number of hospitals
Number of hospitals by size
893

Number of hospitals
487
365

95
1 to 49

Berlin Charité is the largest university hospital with some
3,000 beds, followed by the university hospital of Mainz with
about 1,700 beds and the university hospital of Tübingen witharound 1,600 beds. Often a backbone member of medtech
cluster networks, hospitals play an especially important rolein implementing medtech innovation as partners for R&D and100-249

50 to 299

300 to 800

800+

Number of beds per hospital
Source: VDEK 2020

→ For more data concerning Germany's MedTech market pleasevisit our website: www.gtai.com/medtech

Our Support for Your Business in Germany
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the foreign trade and inward
investment agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. We
advise and support foreign companies planning to expand
into the German market and assist German companies seeking to enter global markets.

All investment-related services are provided entirely freeof charge and all enquiries are treated with the utmost
confidentiality.

Investor Consulting
Our Investor Consulting division of specialist industry teams
provide international investors in all sectors with comprehensive consultancy services specific to each individual investment project. Services include:

Contact
Gabriel Flemming
Chemicals & Healthcare Team:Germany Trade & Invest
gabriel.flemming@gtai.com· Market and industry reports· Market entry analysis· Business and tax law information· Funding and financing information

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