The medtech landscape has been markedly different in 2025 than it was in 2024, and it promises to change even more in the year ahead with the rapid acceleration of AI, legislative changes, and more. From more economic headwinds, to tariff and international trade changes, and technological advances, 2026 will bring more surprises and change for the industry than ever.
Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI) spoke with five (5) industry experts about what to expect from the medical device and medtech space in 2026, and what will be different from 2025.
Shary Adams, Gensler Healthcare Practice Area Leader: In 2026, healthcare will enter one of its most innovative eras yet. Artificial Intelligence (AI), predictive monitoring, digital-twin simulations, and robotics are accelerating — and clinical spaces must now evolve at the same pace to unlock their full value. The next breakthrough is the plug-and-play hospital: modular, cross-specialty rooms and flexible infrastructure that allow new devices, workflows, and care models to be deployed without major rebuilds. As remote monitoring, home diagnostics, and connected devices shift routine care into the community, hospitals will function as adaptive hubs for higher-acuity treatment, rapid intervention, and complex coordination. This adaptability strengthens diagnostics, personalization, and overall system resilience.
Dave Fromm, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Promex: I predict the economic headwinds that have added to the challenges present across the medtech industry will start to ease in 2026. Accordingly, we will see a growth in new product R&D – both at established companies and for startups with potentially disruptive technologies. Many of these technologies involve acquisition of more complex data and real-time analysis of this data with edge computing and, potentially, edge AI. This data will also be pushed up to the cloud to be centralized and to apply broader automated analysis leveraging machine learning/cloud AI. 2026 will be the start of this new frontier in medical devices.
Jeff Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer (COO) at Forj Medical: 2026 will continue to see the impact and acceleration of trends that have started in 2025 or earlier.
1. AI and IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) enabled technologies will continue to be introduced; however, the regulatory process will slow the adoption. On a related note, technology-based innovation will accelerate and be supported by greater Venture Capital (VC) investment for start-ups and smaller organizations. Acquiring new technologies and capabilities will continue to be the main source for innovation at larger medtech companies.
2. Cost will remain a focus for the U.S. healthcare system and there will be a continued push to home health and remote options to keep patients out of the expensive hospital setting.
3. Growth for medtech Contract Design and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) will be higher as medtech companies have reached lower inventory levels. 2024 and 2025 were marked by destocking in major market segments.
4. For the CDMO market, consolidation trends will continue and there will be more Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) as private equity firms reach the end of their investment cycle with major assets. CDMOs will also play a major role in advancing specific technologies and filling technology capability gaps for major medtechs.
Christopher Parker, M.S. Principal Biocompatibility Expert and Expert Advisory Services at Nelson Laboratories: Technological advances and advanced data processing methods continue to enhance the device market, improving both drug and stimulation therapies, imaging techniques, remote diagnostic/telemedicine capabilities and brain signal interpretation and control. Data is fundamental for driving better diagnoses and treatment adjustments in real time, maximizing our impact on patient care. Within the medical device industry, the recent publication of the revised ISO 10993-1 continues to drive a risk assessment and weight of evidence-based approach to ensuring device safety, pushing assessors to utilize all data available instead of leaning so heavily on testing generated using methods which are fit for purpose but, as with any model, have limitations.
Reductions in federal funding in the U.S. has led to fewer Research and Development (R&D) activities conducted by academic institutions and certain device manufacturers. The increased scrutiny from regulators seen over the last year is expected to continue in 2026. Further, there will be a continued emphasis by industry to reduce the use of PFAS in medical devices and increase the use of more environmentally sustainable materials and manufacturing processes.
REFERENCE: Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI); 24 NOV 2025; Claire Wallace