Gangwon Province offers full support for medical device firms entering European market

Gangwon Province's top export sector is set to showcase its technological edge at the heart of Europe, as leading medical device companies and an industry-academia-government support team head to Germany.

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Wonju City and the Wonju Medical Device Industry Promotion Foundation announced Thursday they will operate a joint Gangwon pavilion at MEDICA 2026 — the world's largest medical device exhibition — in Düsseldorf, Germany, from Nov. 16 through Nov. 19, and dispatch a 12-member export support delegation drawn from government, industry, academia and research institutions.

The province plans to provide end-to-end support for medical device companies seeking to enter the European market, linking exhibition participation with certification assistance, technology cooperation and market development.

MEDICA, which launched in 1969, is holding its 58th edition this year and is widely regarded as a premier international platform for the global medical device industry and a key gateway to the European market. Gangwon Province has consistently participated in MEDICA since 2012, supporting local medical device companies in their European market push.

This year's Gangwon pavilion will feature 11 provincial medical device companies — eight from Wonju and three from Chuncheon — showcasing products including portable digital X-ray systems, diagnostic spirometers and in-body medical cameras.

The participating companies are: Galeb Co., whose main product is an electric medical washer; Otom Co. with a portable digital X-ray system; LH Biomed Co. with an ultrasonic surgical device; Meju Co. with a Holter electrocardiograph; Ristem Co. with a diagnostic X-ray imaging device; Simstech with an AI-based medical instrument tracking system; MIOne Co. with an in-body medical camera; MCure Co. with an electric drug infusion pump; J&Bio Co. with a diagnostic spirometer; Neuro Years Co. with balance function analysis software; and Hufit Co. with a blood culture and specimen transport medium.

During the event, the export support delegation will assist the Gangwon pavilion participants and work to establish a foundation for cooperation with local certification and research institutions and to develop new market channels.

On Monday, the delegation will visit KOTRA's Frankfurt trade office and the Frankfurt Biotechnology Innovation Center to discuss German medical device market trends, retail and healthcare network linkages, and potential cooperation on company development and technology commercialization.

On Tuesday, the delegation will call on the Düsseldorf Economic Development Agency to review local networking opportunities and support programs for companies entering the market, before heading to the Gangwon pavilion at MEDICA to encourage participating firms, attend an export contract signing ceremony and hold a business roundtable.

On Tuesday, the delegation will meet with German certification body TÜV NORD to discuss strategies for complying with the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (IVDR). On Wednesday, in Dresden, the delegation will consult with the Fraunhofer IKTS on joint research and development cooperation and with biosaxony on establishing a regular exchange program between Korean and German medical device companies.

Medical devices are Gangwon Province's top export item. In 2025, exports in the sector reached $679.84 million, accounting for 22.0 percent of the province's total exports, with European sales making up 34.4 percent at $233.96 million. Exports to Germany in particular rose 27.0 percent year-on-year in the January–September period this year to $8.64 million, pointing to strong growth potential in the European market.

"MEDICA is a vital stage for Gangwon's medical device companies to demonstrate their product competitiveness in the European market and find local partners," said Kim Mun-gi, director general of the Gangwon Province economy bureau. "On top of exhibition support on the ground, we will closely connect companies with certification and research institutions so they can enter the European market on a stable footing."