The Albany Gazette - MedTech World Europe Opens in Valletta With Over 2,000 Global Leaders

MedTech World Europe officially opened this morning at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, drawing an audience of international founders, investors, clinicians, and industry leaders. The event marks the beginning of a major gathering aimed at strengthening Malta’s position in the global medical technology sector.

Dr Dylan Attard, CEO and co-founder of MedTech World, welcomed delegates before the session moved to keynote addresses by senior Maltese government officials. Hon. Dr Deo Debattista, Junior Minister for Active Ageing, spoke on the intersection of medical technology and aging well. He was followed by Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects, and Hon. Dr Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health. Later in the day, Hon. Dr Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Tourism, also addressed the audience from the La Valette stage.

Hon. Silvio Schembri emphasized the strategic importance of the sector to the island nation. "Medical technology and life sciences are central to Malta’s future economic growth," Schembri said. "Our ambition is to establish Malta as a high-value European hub, attracting investment, strengthening research and development, and building capabilities in medical devices, diagnostics and digital health."

Hon. Dr Deo Debattista focused on the practical application of innovation. "The true measure of healthcare innovation is the difference it makes in people’s everyday lives," he said. "We must ensure that scientific progress translates into better, more independent living, particularly for people as they age."

Following the speeches, Dr Attard accompanied the ministers on a tour of the exhibition floor. They visited more than 100 stands in the conference centre’s main hall, where medtech companies, start-ups, and investors were exhibiting. The tour facilitated direct engagement between government representatives and international companies considering Malta as a base for growth, as well as local organizations supporting the sector, including the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, Malta Enterprise, and the Malta Medicines Authority.

"Malta has built a strong foundation for MedTech," Dr Attard said. "As an EU and Eurozone member with an established life sciences sector, the island is a practical point of entry into Europe for MedTech companies. But infrastructure alone does not create an ecosystem. People do."

He added that each delegate represents a potential opportunity for the country. "Malta is where our story began," Attard said. "Each delegate is an opportunity for Malta: a company that might set up here, an investor who might back a local startup, a partnership that might bring new technology to our hospitals."

This year’s edition of the summit brings together more than 200 partner organizations, over 300 start-ups, and more than 250 investors from over 50 countries. Confirmed speakers include leaders from Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Ventures, Mount Sinai Health System, Siemens Healthineers, Medtronic, MicroPort Scientific, and SV Health Ventures, alongside Maltese institutions and clinicians.

The first day’s program was distributed across four stages. Panels explored how capital is reshaping the medtech industry, challenges founders face when deciding whether to raise funds, partner, or sell, neurotechnology investment, women’s health, and lessons from the Nordic and French medtech markets.

A dedicated surgical track featured Maltese and international surgeons, including a live case from St James Hospital and a session on shaping the surgical story of Malta. This was followed by "Women at the Table," a session focused on redesigning surgical culture. Malta Enterprise hosted a session on growing a medtech business from Malta, while Dr Jean-Marie Mifsud of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority delivered a keynote on the main stage.

The summit continues tomorrow, Friday 13th November, when the Leader of the Opposition, Alex Borg, will address delegates. The day’s program includes the MedTech World Startup Pitch Competition, regulatory sessions led by the Malta Medicines Authority, and discussions on surgical robotics and artificial intelligence in medical devices. The week concludes with the MedTech World Awards in the evening.

MedTech World Europe 2026 is part of MedTech Malta Week, which opened on 9th November with the MedTech World Investor Retreat in Gozo. MedTech World Europe is scheduled to return to Malta on 10th-12th November 2027.

(O.Robinson--TAG)