The meeting was hosted by AxisBIC together with Lead Partner BOM, while the project management sessions were facilitated by BAX. In addition to the project partners, Matthew Thompson from the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg North-West Europe Programme also attended the meeting.

Pilot areas based on regional analyses

A key item on the agenda was the evaluation of the desk research and regional analyses conducted to date. These analyses examine existing circular approaches in the medical technology sector, current needs and gaps, as well as relevant regulatory and market conditions across the MEDI4Future regions.

Building on these findings, the partners worked in groups to assess a longlist of potential product categories and interventions. The discussions focused on identifying which categories could be addressed by suitable SMEs or other stakeholders along the value chain in the partner regions, and which offer the greatest potential for a MEDI4Future pilot.

Key assessment criteria included the potential for waste reduction, feasibility for SMEs, regulatory requirements, and the expected impact. The aim is to develop a joint shortlist of promising product categories and use this as a basis for further defining the pilot activities.

Open Call for MedTech SMEs planned for January 2027

Another key focus of the meeting was the preparation of the Open Call. Through the call, eight MedTech SMEs from eight regions across North-West Europe will be selected as pilot partners to test the MEDI4Future Toolbox on their own circularity challenges under real-world conditions. Participating companies will receive free expert support and guidance tailored to their individual challenges.

A first draft of the Pilot Booklet was presented in Cork and further developed jointly by the partners. According to the current schedule, the Open Call will open on 11 January 2027 and close on 8 February 2027. The pilot partners are expected to be selected by mid-March. The experience and findings gained from the pilot actions will subsequently feed into the further development of the Toolbox.

Support for participating companies

In parallel, the MEDI4Future Toolbox is being further developed. A three-stage support model is planned, comprising workshops, individual advisory sessions, and longer-term support for selected SMEs over a period of up to six months.

During the partner meeting, the partners discussed the content structure, allocation of responsibilities, and topics that still need to be addressed. The Toolbox is designed to help companies systematically develop circular and resource-efficient approaches in medical technology and assess their feasibility in practice.

Advisory Board and Expert Group nearly complete

The project’s two advisory bodies are also now almost fully established. The Advisory Board currently comprises eleven of the twelve planned members, while the Expert Group consists of 19 experts.

The Advisory Board held its kick-off meeting on 24 September. Its members will provide expert guidance throughout the project and contribute their expertise in particular to the assessment and design of the pilot activities.

Training programme and project communication

The training programme is also taking shape. Plans include an interactive online learning platform featuring four modules covering sustainability, eco-design, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and circular business models. In addition, a practical guide is being developed for Business Support Organisations and Regional Development Agencies. Five regional seminars across the North-West Europe regions are also planned from mid-2027 onwards.

The partners also coordinated communication activities for the next phase of the project. A digital Project Initiation Event is planned for November, followed by intensified communication around the Open Call. In addition, the partners are developing a joint overview of relevant events and stakeholders, as well as further video and social media formats.

Over the coming months, the main priorities will therefore be finalising the Open Call, defining the pilot categories in greater detail, further developing the Toolbox, and preparing the training activities.

The next partner meeting is scheduled to take place in Liège in spring 2027 and is expected to be combined with another meeting of the Advisory Board.