Collaborative Biomedical Device Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Sri Lanka

Abstract

Biomedical Device Development is a rapidly growing multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. Asia Pacific region in particular shows great prospects as an emerging market for consumer medical technology. Sri Lanka, as a developing economy has many positive attributes that can be harnessed to be a hub for biomedical device development in the region. In order to help Sri Lanka move from being primary consumers and importers of healthcare solutions to be a developer of technology and commercial biomedical devices, the Centre for Biomedical Innovation (CEBI) was established at the University of Moratuwa in 2017. CEBI is a multidisciplinary research centre of the University of Moratuwa that aims to work toward biomedical device development by fostering collaborations between engineering, medical, corporate and state sectors. In this talk, the opportunities, challenges and other experiences gained in the one year since the inception of the centre will be reviewed, and the potential for biomedical device development and research within Sri Lanka will be discussed. The talk further aims to inform and invite the readership to be part of the ecosystem for promoting innovation, creativity and the necessary framework within medicine, engineering and the sciences to develop the biomedical device industry within Sri Lanka.