Norwegian healthtech companies made a strong international impact at MEDICA 2025

Written by Lucie Meltzer and Therese Oppegaard

Norwegian companies on the global stage

The Norwegian delegation included companies such as Calpro, Tidewave, Sensocure, Global Health Technology and ECG247, along with representatives from the Nordic Proof network. At the Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) stand, 12 companies from countries including Korea, Japan, Singapore, Denmark, Sweden and Norway were given the opportunity to pitch their solutions to an international audience. For the Norwegian participants, this provided a valuable arena to showcase innovation, build relationships and strengthen their position in the global market.

– The key takeaway from MEDICA is crystal clear: face-to-face meetings are invaluable. Nothing builds trust, understanding and collaboration faster than in-person conversations. Being present allowed us to strengthen partnerships, shorten processes and create new connections that simply don’t happen digitally. Pitching at the GTAI stand reinforced this even further, says Daniela Anvik of Global Health Technology, one of the Norwegian companies that pitched during the event.

Norway as partner country – and brown cheese as icebreaker

In collaboration with Germany Trade & Invest, Norway served as partner country at an international networking event where Norwegian companies met investors, partners and representatives from the healthcare sector, including Oslo University Hospital and Vestre Viken. With brown cheese and aquavit as informal conversation starters, the event became a low-threshold meeting place that helped spark new relationships and further dialogue on collaboration and market opportunities.

– Some of the most valuable conversations emerge in informal settings. That’s where relationships are formed and momentum for collaboration begins, explains Lucie Meltzer, Internationalisation Advisor at Norway Health Tech.

This year’s MEDICA also had a strong Nordic dimension through the collaboration with Nordic Proof. Norwegian companies had the opportunity to meet leading Nordic test and validation environments, including Oulu University Hospital TestLab Health, Helsinki University Hospital, Innovation Skåne, Vestre Viken and Oslo University Hospital. Solutions that have been tested and validated in the Nordic region build trust in international markets and represent an important competitive advantage for Norwegian healthtech companies.

Long-term support enabling international growth

The activities surrounding MEDICA are part of a long-term, structured internationalisation effort within Norway Health Tech, made possible through support from Stiftelsen Teknologiformidling. The foundation has backed the cluster through several projects aimed at strengthening exports, competitiveness and productivity in the healthtech sector.

This support enables the cluster to work continuously and strategically on international market entry, including dedicated market entry programmes targeting Germany and the UK.

– For our members, this means access to the expertise, networks and arenas that are crucial for succeeding internationally — from market insight and regulatory understanding to concrete meetings with customers, distributors and partners, says Trine Radmann, who leads international activities at Norway Health Tech.

The funding, combined with clear expectations regarding ambition, milestones and measurable outcomes, has delivered tangible results in the form of pilots, new distribution agreements, renewed contracts and increased revenues among cluster members. At the same time, the support has made it possible to build stronger cluster services, facilitate experience-sharing between companies, and establish lasting gateways to some of Europe’s largest healthcare markets.

A clear reminder of global competition

MEDICA has a strong international — and distinctly Asian — presence, with significant participation from countries such as China, Japan and Singapore. It underscores how rapidly the field is evolving, and how important it is for Norway to continue investing in high quality and collaboration to maintain international competitiveness. Through the cluster, Norwegian companies strengthen their ability to compete and grow in a demanding global market.

Read more about our international activities on our website