Team Alberta showcases Alberta: The best place for digital health innovation

The MedTech Conference is the fastest growing medical technology event for innovators and industry executives, and powered by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) made its first visit to Canada this year. The MedTech Conference took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, attracting nearly 4,500 people from 48 countries.

Alberta Innovates coordinated a team of 35 local partners to encourage innovators and investors to consider the province as a leader in digital health innovation. Working together, the delegates showcased the strengths of Alberta’s health innovation ecosystem, fostered meaningful conversations about the support and opportunities available in the province, and connected Alberta-based companies with global investors and market opportunities.

This year’s MedTech Conference harnessed the power of innovation and investment for the benefit of patients and clinicians. Medical devices, advanced diagnostics, and imaging technologies are increasingly important to diagnose and treat complex medical conditions while optimizing the patient experience.

For example, WaveView Imaging, who are part of Alberta Innovates’ investment portfolio and a member of the Alberta delegation in Toronto, is developing a tabletop unit that uses a wide band signal to measure breast tissue properties. Tumorous tissues have different electrical properties compared to healthy tissues. WaveView’s scan is comfortable, taking less than a minute, with an image available in seconds. Physicians are presented with supporting data to guide follow up care.

Conference delegates also met with trade commissioners from the U.S. , Germany, the U.K., and Switzerland thanks to the partnership with Alberta’s Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade. Each organization made significant connections at MedTech 2024, taking home up to 50 leads each.

Raja Mita participates in a panel discussion

“Thousands of partners and thousands of attendees; what better place to come together to create those partnerships than at AdvaMed,” said Raja Mita, Executive Director, Health Innovation at Alberta Innovates.

Alberta offers many benefits for innovators and investors, including a collaborative health and life sciences ecosystem to companies at every stage of business growth. Alberta’s research institutions, leading accelerators, and desirable talent pool are nestled in Canada’s best jurisdiction for economic growth, providing a strong foundation for successful companies. Alberta’s eight per cent corporate income tax rate is the lowest in Canada and among the lowest in North America, attracting record investment, creating thousands of jobs, and further diversifying the economy.

The MedTech Conference is an important venue for investment attraction in the province. Team Alberta’s participation has helped to cement Alberta’s advantages to a wide range of medical technology innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Team Alberta included representatives from ADEPT, Bio-Stream, Innovotech, MyViva, NAIT, Nanospeed Diagnostics, Pavonis Diagnostics, Pulse Medica, ST Innovations, WaveView Imaging, Alberta Innovates, Innovate Calgary, SPARK Alberta, the University of Calgary, BioAlberta, Calgary Economic Development, Plug N Play, Nimble Space, W21C, and the Government of Alberta.