What’s ahead for medtech in 2026? TRIMEDX Chief Technology Officer Steven Martin was recently interviewed for a series of articles published as part of Citeline Commercial’s Medtech Insight 2026 outlook. Take a look at what Steven and other industry leaders have to say about how resilience and innovation are reshaping the medtech industry. The articles were published Jan. 12, 2026. Summaries and links to the full articles are below.
Medtech 2026: Geopolitical Uncertainty Shapes Industry’s Future
As our experts know, the geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties reshaping the medtech industry make resilience and innovation more important than ever. Companies are onshoring to sidestep supply chain fragility prompts onshoring, while healthcare systems demand proven value.
Steven Martin says:
Global trade instability continues to shape the medtech landscape. Tariff volatility and shifting policies have introduced real cost pressures on essential components, making long-term planning far more complex for manufacturers and healthcare providers. We’re also seeing supply chain disruptions push organizations toward diversification and deeper supplier partnerships. In an environment where availability can shift overnight, scale and analytics-driven forecasting become essential tools for maintaining continuity of care. Ultimately, geopolitical uncertainty reinforces the need for strong industry partnerships. Health systems increasingly rely on organizations that have the breadth, relationships, and technology to anticipate disruptions and secure high-quality parts when they’re needed most.
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Medtech 2026: Last Year Brought Technical Advances Alongside Regulatory Challenges
Opinions on the medtech industry’s high and low points in 2025 varied. Some experts celebrated innovations and increased investments, while others highlighted negative aspects like staff cuts and challenges at the FDA.
Steven Martin says:
In 2025, one of the real high points for the industry was the acceleration of data-driven, AI-powered maintenance capabilities that helped health systems identify issues before they became failures. We saw predictive technologies mature meaningfully, allowing organizations to reduce downtime and strengthen patient care continuity. We also saw continued momentum around improving medical device cybersecurity, both in terms of awareness and in the steps policymakers began taking to drive greater transparency and patch support from manufacturers. The year wasn’t without challenges. Cyberattacks continued to hit health systems hard, exposing just how far the industry still must go in building true cyber resilience. And persistent supply chain volatility, driven by tariffs and material shortages, made it harder for hospitals to access the high-quality parts they rely on. We’re also still feeling the pressure of significant workforce shortages. Demand for skilled technicians is growing faster than the pipeline can deliver, and that remains a major constraint for hospitals nationwide.
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Medtech 2026: Complexity, Bottlenecks And Cybersecurity Among Key Regulatory Concerns
As medtech moves toward 2026, experts highlight increased regulatory complexities, particularly around AI, cybersecurity, and device user fees. Urgent regulatory updates are needed to keep pace with rapid technology changes while ensuring patient safety and operational efficiency.
Steven Martin says:
As we move into 2026, one of the top regulatory priorities must be continuing to strengthen policies that support cybersecurity across the entire medical device ecosystem. We need clearer, more enforceable requirements for OEMs to provide patches – not just for new devices, but for the millions already in service. Right to Repair also remains critical. Ensuring that health systems and qualified independent service organizations have access to the tools, training, and materials required to secure and maintain devices is essential for patient safety and operational resilience. Finally, as AI becomes foundational to medtech operations, regulators will need to focus on data quality, model transparency, and the guardrails that ensure AI is deployed responsibly.
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Medtech 2026: Collaboration, Coverage Improvements Top Industry Wish Lists
Wishes for 2026 from our medtech experts focused on value-based care, faster reimbursements, and better collaboration. Key ideas included enhancing patient engagement, reducing waste, and aligning coverage policies to improve health outcomes and innovation.
Steven Martin says:
For the industry to fully embrace a consistent, data-driven approach to medical device security, maintenance, and lifecycle management. We now have the ability to use advanced analytics and AI to see issues before they cause failures, reduce downtime, and create a more predictable, reliable clinical environment. When every hospital, regardless of size, has access to the tools, insights, and standards needed to secure and maintain their devices, we not only strengthen operational resilience but also meaningfully improve patient care. That’s the real opportunity in front of us. Finally, as AI becomes foundational to medtech operations, regulators will need to focus on data quality, model transparency, and the guardrails that ensure AI is deployed responsibly.
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Medtech 2026: AI Shows Patient Care Potential, But Regulation Remains Tricky
AI in medtech offers exciting potential for improving patient care and operational efficiency, but faces significant regulatory challenges. Ensuring data quality and building trust among users are essential for successful AI integration in healthcare, our expert panel said.
Steven Martin says:
AI offers enormous opportunities in medtech by enabling predictive insights that transform how devices are maintained and supported. We’re now able to analyze historical and real-time data to diagnose issues faster, reduce downtime, and create a smoother, more efficient experience for clinicians and technicians. It also frees teams from administrative burdens – automating documentation, summarizing work orders, and streamlining routine tasks – so they can focus on more strategic, value-driven work. At the same time, AI will only be as effective as the data behind it. Ensuring that models learn from accurate, representative datasets is critical. Without that foundation, trust breaks down; and trust is essential for adoption. There’s also a cybersecurity dimension. As AI becomes more powerful for defenders, it does the same for attackers. The industry must be prepared for increasingly sophisticated threats targeting medical devices and the data that flows through them. And of course, AI is not a replacement for clinical engineering expertise. Human insight remains essential to ensure quality, safety, and the right interpretation of AI-driven recommendations.