Clust-ER Health at MEDICA 2025: Italian companies joining forces to unlock new global opportunities

At MEDICA 2025 in Düsseldorf, Clust-ER Health showcased the strength and innovation of the Italian life sciences ecosystem, positioning Emilia-Romagna companies at the forefront of international health technology and solutions. Our presence combined two complementary approaches: a formal institutional representation within the Italian collective coordinated by ICE Agency, and an interactive, business-focused side event dedicated to internationalization.

Within the Italy Pavilion, Clust-ER Health joined forces with other regional organizations and innovation clusters to:

• highlight the projects and expertise of Emilia-Romagna’s companies and research centers;
• enhance coordination with other regional life sciences clusters;
• engage with potential international partners for industrial collaborations, joint R&D initiatives, and European projects.

The collective stand served as a central hub for Italian companies, startups, hospitals, and universities in medical devices, pharma, digital health, and healthcare services, creating a unified narrative of Italy’s innovative capabilities.

Side Event: “From Local Strengths to Global Connections”

Complementing the exhibition, Clust-ER Health co-organized the side event “From Local Strengths to Global Connections. Together, We Unlock International Opportunities. Don’t Stay Local. Go Global.” at the Uerige Brewery in Düsseldorf. The event brought together life sciences clusters from Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Trentino, with the support of Global Marketing Architecture.

The purpose was clear: to identify what Italian companies truly need to succeed on the international stage, moving beyond generic slogans.

Participants included stakeholders from across Italy’s life sciences ecosystem, along with international partners such as:

• Japan External Trade Organization – JETRO (Japan)
• Human.technology Styria GmbH (Austria)
• Life Science Nord (Germany)

An interactive live poll allowed companies to share challenges and priorities in real time, revealing actionable insights:

• Key challenges: access to funding, regulatory compliance (MDR), AI integration, communication, and positioning in international markets;
• Planned next steps: new product development, integration of digital and AI technologies, international expansion, entry into new markets, and strategic partnership development;
• Target markets: Europe, USA, Germany, Switzerland, the Middle East, and Japan;
• Preferred partners: other companies for industrial or commercial collaboration, distributors for market expansion, research centers and universities for R&D cooperation, followed by investors and, in some cases, end users.

These discussions provided the clusters with precise guidance for designing future initiatives: targeted international missions, framework agreements with global networks, regulatory support, and training on communication and market positioning.

What’s next

MEDICA 2025 reaffirmed Clust-ER Health’s pivotal role as a connector between companies, research institutions, and public authorities, both within Emilia-Romagna and internationally.

The engagement continues beyond Düsseldorf: insights from the live poll and international dialogues will inform new networking initiatives, joint European projects, and targeted strategies for entering key global markets.

Companies interested in exploring international growth opportunities are invited to connect with Clust-ER Health to plan next steps, identify target markets, and explore potential partnerships.

Will you be joining us in the next international mission?