Medical Engineering in Germany’s Medical Valley

The constant progress in medicine pushes medical engineers to search for innovative developments and improved processes. Experts in the field develop, improve, supervise and maintain medical devices and services for businesses and the health industry, e.g. innovative x-ray systems, radiotherapy units, ultrasound systems, surgical robots, CT or MRI scanners or health applications for patients’ smart phones. These devices help in providing fast accurate diagnoses and accelerated healing processes and in effectively supporting physicians in their work. Other tasks of medical engineers include technical service, as well as the training and supervision of personnel in handling medical devices. In the business sector, medical engineers can also be active in sales and distribution, service, product management, marketing and quality assurance of medical devices. All these sectors are represented in the Erlangen region, also known as the Medical Valley of Germany.

A Growing and Innovative Business Medical Engineering is a relevant future-oriented high-tech sector ensuring jobs and prosperity in Germany, while at the same time contributing to the health and wellbeing of people and maximizing the health sector’s efficiency. In 2022, the manufacture of medical devices and medical technology generated gross value added of 19.0 billion euros – meaning that almost one-fifth of the value added in the industrial healthcare industry is generated by medical devices and medical technology. According to a conservative estimate, the growth rate will continue its upwards trend for the next 100 years – only few sectors are bestowed with such optimistic future prospects. The Medical Engineering sector in Germany currently provides over 500 000 jobs. Although only few of the larger companies outsource parts of production, research and development departments, the sector has a high overall employment. Medium-sized businesses are able to stand their ground in the world market. Many start-up companies achieve success. (Source: DGBMT ‐ German Society for Biomedical Engineering within VDE)

Leading Position in Bavaria Several institutions in our region are active in the field of (bio)medical basic research: clinical research groups, a total of 20 collaborative research centres at Bavarian universities and 2 Transregio projects with a Bavarian university as a spokesperson. Through the government initiatives “Offensive Zukunft Bayern I/II” and “High-Tech-Offensive” it was possible to provide 429.8 million euros for university medicine and health research. Research results are directly implemented in new treatment methods and medical engineering innovations in Bavaria. A large number of the revenue-strongest medical engineering and pharmaceutical businesses were either founded in Bavaria or have their corporate headquarters or important branches in the area. With more than 250 medium-sized companies, it is hard to compete with Bavaria’s corporate expertise in Medical Engineering. Bavaria covers more than 60% of the production of electromedical devices and 30% of the German production of medical devices in general. (Source: Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection)

One cannot discuss growth dynamics without mentioning clustering. With Siemens Healthineers and the university FAU, Erlangen excels as a cluster for Medical Engineering. In no other region you can find a higher density of medical engineering expertise as in the 110.000 population city of Erlangen in the heart of the Medical Valley. Almost one in four employees earn their living in the field of Medical Engineering and Health.

The immediate proximity of excellent scientific force and the mixture of traditional and young innovative businesses prompts an excellent work environment for dynamic developments. The Franconian Huguenot city has now developed into one of the first-class regions in Europe thanks to the second largest alma mater in Bavaria whose School of Medicine is one of the most renowned in Germany, to the over 100 medium-sized businesses focusing on medical research and to the production and services of the global player Siemens Healthineers. It is a unique opportunity in Bavaria to have a close cooperation of the School of Engineering and Sciences. The new Nikolaus-Fiebiger center for cutting-edge research in the interdisciplinary area of biology and medicine is a great example. Scientists and medical researcher work closely together.

The data concerning healthcare in Erlangen is impressive: 25 clinical departments and the hospitals “Klinikum am Europakanal” and “Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien” not only make up for 2800 beds but also have garnered an excellent reputation in their region and beyond. According to peer review, Erlangen is the undisputed global leader in the area of neurosurgery thanks to their unique interdisciplinary neurological center in which experts of the four university clinics for neurosurgery, neurology, ophthalmology and psychiatry work closely together and apply state-of-the-art technology. Maintaining and improving the high standard in quality is a high priority for Erlangen and the Bavarian government who provides large funds for research and clinical facilities.

This unique scientific and corporate portfolio endorses Erlangen as an excellent location for ambitious research and successful product innovations. The city of Erlangen is a mediator who develops the structures for a close cooperation between business and sciences, provides networking and establishes forums to foster the existing cooperation and guarantee an even more successful future. For this matter local authorities initiate and support cooperation projects like the initiative “Medizin-Pharma-Gesundheit“ that establishes contacts between businesses, research facilities and clinics in the region and promotes the exchange of competence. Connecting the different participants of the Health industry provides optimal conditions for new start-up companies, for example the founding of the venture capital company for medical entrepreneurs. In cooperation with the Office for Knowledge and Technology Transfer, a highly creative work environment with an extremely dense communication network has developed in Erlangen.This becomes apparent in the recent founding or settling of 60 new start-up companies, including award winning businesses, like November AG, WaveLight or HumanOptics.

Erlangen is home of the Bavarian Laser Center, two Fraunhofer institutes and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light . Another important milestone of Erlangen’s journey to become the world capital of Medicine has been the foundation of the Medical Valley Center (MVC) in 2011. The 12.5 million euro construction in the center of the city is a sign of determination and drive to further distinguish Erlangen as an optimal location for medicine and emerge to the top in European ranking. This position is further strengthened since the inauguration of the Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine in September 2024. On July 13 2023, the cornestone of the Center for Immunotherapy, Biophysics & Digital Medicine (CITABLE), the new research building of the German Center for Immunotherapy (DZI) was laid, which will be finished by the end of 2025. In this facility, scientists from immunotherapy, biophysics and digital medicine will collaborate closely across the disciplines, enabling a scientific network that is unique in Germany.

Our Master’s program prepares students for a challenging, interdisciplinary work environment by providing them with profound engineering knowledge (mathematics, electrical engineering, computer science), specialized application skills, first-class research opportunities as well as soft skills. It has been quality-checked and accredited by the German Accreditation Council. Moreover, FAU has been ranked among the 75 best universities worldwide in Medical Technology in the Shanghai Ranking. And best of all, university education in the Federal State of Bavaria is free of cost for all students, no matter their origin or nationality.

In order to present comprehensive information about our innovation and research projects in the medtech field, we have compiled our MedTech Map. It contains information about our experts and activities in Digital Health, Sensors & Robotics, Medical Processes, Imaging, Biomaterials and MedTech in Society.