Together with Innovation Norway, and Trondheim-based medtech network MedITNor, Oslo MedTech is organizing an exhibition presenting Norwegian medtech companies in Shanghai.
The exhibition will be open during all of September 2010, to coincide with the international EXPO 2010 - also in Shanghai.
The main activities of the medtech exhibition will be focused in the week between the 8th and the 15th of September. In this period, we will arrange a grand opening event with prominent guests from China and Norway. There will also be demonstrations, seminars, and training courses to present Norwegian medtech technology, products, services and solutions. The main objective of the exhibition will be to facilitate many meetings between the Norwegian companies and their potential partners and customers in China.
The venue of the exhibition is the Nordic Lighthouse ( www.nlh2010.com ) : This is an exhibition centre rented by the Danish Foreign Office, with the purpose to offer Nordic industry exhibition space at a much lower cost than at the official EXPO 2010 pavilions. From the Nordic Lighthouse there is direct ferry connection along the Huangpu-river up to the EXPO centre. The Norwegian medtech project has reserved 500 m2 for the exhibition and we will also have access to common meeting rooms and catering facilities.
Project organization
So far 8 companies have signed up for the project: Axis-Shield PoC, NordicNeuroLab, Redcord, ProVista, LVI, Hove Medical International, Kitron, and Skannex. Several other companies are currently in the decision process.
The participating companies have formed a project team to organize the exhibition. KITH (Norwegian competence centre for ICT in health and social services) is leading the project, with assistance from MedITNor and Oslo Medtech.
A crucial part of the project is the financial support provided by Innovation Norway (IN). This is enabling the project to offer the companies full participation at the exhibition for as little as NOK 50,000.-. Their respective travel, transport and materials costs come in addition.
Equally important are the human resources that IN is providing in Shanghai and in Norway. They are connecting the project with resources in their organizations and contacts in their network. IN is also funding a dedicated project manager in Shanghai – Mr. Torkel Snellingen who has more than 8 years of experience working with Norwegian companies in the Chinese health sector markets. The focus of his work will be to activate his own contact networks as well as those of the participating companies, to ensure that as many relevant people as possible, representing potential customers, distributors, and partners for the Norwegian medtech companies, visit the exhibition.
Great opportunities in China
China will become one of the worlds largest and most important markets for health related products and services over the coming years. At the same time, Chinese R&D will soon become world leading in many areas.
In 2009 China launched a plan for a major renewal of its healthcare systems. They will invest 850 billion RMB (~800 billion NOK) in new hospitals and infrastructure over a three year period. The Chinese authorities want the latest and most innovative solutions within health and medical technology, and seek international cooperation. This represents a huge opportunity for Norwegian medtech companies.
Norway and China have for some time had cooperation agreement on health issues. The third renewal of this agreement will be signed later this year.
This time, the agreement is expected to incorporate cooperation on innovation. Community hospitals will be a particular target. This may include hospital infrastructure, e-health solutions, and medtech products. Hence, the renewed cooperation agreement on health will be an important basis for the entry of Norwegian medtech companies into China.
China – a long term project
Entering the Chinese market is a challenge. For many Norwegian companies succeeding with this will take a great deal of their resources over a long period of time. In order to ease this process, the participants in the Norwegian medtech China project have decided to join forces and work together over time. By sharing knowledge, contact networks and resources, they all expect to have a better chance for success than if they go it alone.
The exhibition at the Shanghai Nordic Lighthouse in September is therefore only the first phase of a project that will extend several years into the future. Companies that are not able to join us this time around are welcome to join the project at a later stage. Oslo Medtech will support the project all the way.
Is your company interested in exploring markets in China?
- For short term participation at the Shanghai Nordic Lighthouse in September 2010?
- Or do you want to join the project for our common long term effort?
