Ia already in 78% of medtech companies, but innovation does not reach patients

On the adoption of artificial intelligence, the MedTech system in Italia is among the most vibrant in Europe: 78% of companies have integrated it into their products or services and 61% are in advanced stages of development and validation. Yet these technologies are still struggling to reach patients, to systematically enter hospital wards, and to concretely transform care models. This is what emerges from a study conducted by the Tech4GlobalHealth Observatory of the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and Intesa Sanpaolo presented during the second day of EmTech Italy.

The analysis involved about 300 companies in the sector, including SMEs and start-ups, and shows that the barriers to adoption identified by companies are not technological, but systemic and organisational: regulatory complexity (69.6%), lack of qualified resources for certification and validation (58.6%), and difficulties in raising funds (57.5%) are the three obstacles most cited by companies. companies that faced complexities in adopting their products also reported uncertainty in reimbursement pathways (54%), conducting clinical validations (47%), interoperability problems with existing systems (44%) and strong cultural resistance (34%) as the main perceived barriers. In short, the main barriers to innovative AI-based technologies are - according to the report - "clearly systemic and structural, rather than technological", with the main bottleneck for its adoption "appearing to be institutional and organisational". With regional fragmentation "amplifying territorial inequalities" in access to digital technologies.

 "The health challenges are on the territories, but innovation is still centred on large hospitals. Ia is a system challenge, but a lot of training and planning is still focused on individual players," stressed Leandro Pecchia, director of Tech4GlobalHealth and professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Campus Bio-Medico University in Rome. "Regulatory complexities require synergies, but many still perceive a contrast to be overcome. The report highlights many of these dichotomies and points a way to overcome some of them. Artificial intelligence is a critical lever to ensure sustainability, fairness and competitiveness of the healthcare system and Italian companies," he added. The report offers operational recommendations addressed to the main players in the system: regulators and policymakers, at European, national and regional level; industry (SMEs, start-ups and large companies); National Health Service companies

Among the priorities identified: making regulatory pathways more predictable, investing in data infrastructure and interoperability, developing business models compatible with public procurement, and strengthening training, involving not only technical specialists but the entire healthcare organisation. "Life sciences play an increasingly strategic role for a country called to face growing demographic challenges," added Elisa Zambito Marsala, Head of Education Ecosystem and Global Value Programs at Intesa Sanpaolo. "With Campus Bio-Medico University we have promoted a Tech4GlobalHealth Observatory, which involves researchers from all over the world. Intesa Sanpaolo supports applied research, talent, initiatives to counter the brain drain, internationalisation and the integration of the academic world with the industrial fabric, in support of the country's growth," Marsala concluded.