On 10th July, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH (Konica Minolta) participated in the final event of the ‘Global Health Challenge’, an initiative of the MedTech OneWorld Student launched by the Center for International Medical Engineering of the Institute of Medical and Polymer Engineering at the Technical University of Munich. Konica Minolta has sponsored the initiative and supported the event as part of the jury.
The Center for International Medical Engineering was founded in 2017. It focuses on the implementation of new medical technology R&D projects for emerging and developing countries. In May 2019, the second MedTech OneWorld Student challenge was launched and more than 30 students participated with several projects including 3D-printed Surgical Tools, Automated Infusion Control, First Aid Scooter, Colposcopy for developing regions, Life Cycle Development of Medical Devices and Low-cost Oxygen Concentrators. The ultimate goal is to develop prototypes that can be low-cost, locally produced products in developing countries.
Four of these prototypes were presented in the final pitch round, in front of a jury in which Konica Minolta was represented by Marie Piraud, Digital Healthcare Research Specialist in the Konica Minolta Global R&D laboratory in Munich. The team ‘Automated Infusion Control’ won the challenge, with a very simple drop counter device that can save precious time for the nurses of developing countries. They won a place in the next MedTech BootCamp organised by the UnternehmerTUM, the Center for innovation and business creation at TUM, to further develop and refine their project.
“Konica Minolta supported the MedTech OneWorld Student 2019 edition, because of its unique blend of focus on great societal issues and the requirement for multidisciplinary and intercultural teamwork”, explains Stefan Braunewell, Digital Healthcare R&D Strategy & Technology Manager of Global R&D in Munich. “We believe in the power of research and development to deliver meaningful value for people and society. Participating in this initiative enables us to focus our attention on diverse and specific users requirements.
Building upon a constantly growing network, which includes local Universities (Addis Ababa University), vocational training colleges (Tegbareid Polytechnic College Addis Ababa), regulatory bodies (EFDA – Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration) and local companies, as well as German and international companies, MedTech
OneWorld focuses on the creation of medical technology for developing and emerging countries. The developments include sufficient functionality, local production and maintaining an affordable price level without the need for external support. This approach ensures knowledge sharing allowing local maintenance and creation of spare parts.
“The world of healthcare is facing major changes and challenges and Konica Minolta is in the forefront of providing support to healthcare professionals with appropriate solutions to improve operations and efficiency,” said Marian Kelly, Sr. International Business Development Manager, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, responsible for the development of the Healthcare vertical market. “We have supported and followed MedTech OneWorld with interest because we believe that it is only thanks to co-development, long-term commitment and close collaboration with different organisations, we will be able to realise tailored solutions for the healthcare challenge.”
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