Benoit Dubuis: ‘It’s a great time to be a MedTech entrepreneur’
As president of the innovation-promoting non-profit Inartis Foundation and president of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), Professor Benoit Dubuis is an expert in the field of MedTech investing.
Having trained as an engineer and earned a PhD at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zurich, before completing further studies at Cambridge and Cranfield, he has worked for a variety of pharmaceutical companies including Chemap, Ciba-Geigy/Novartis and Lonza. He later founded the life sciences faculty and became the first dean of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne before founding BioAlps in 2001, medical research and development company Excellgene in 2002 and Swiss life sciences seed-fund and incubator Eclosion in 2004.
With more than 20 years of international experience across a variety of management positions, Benoit is passionate about supporting the promotion and understanding of life sciences.
Ahead of chairing the 33rd edition of the MedTech Investing Europe Forum (MTI) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on June 27 and 28, he talks to Campden FB about the current MedTech landscape and the opportunities for investors…
MTI presents a unique opportunity for both investors and presenting companies. As returning chairperson, what does it mean for you?
For me, the MedTech Investing Europe Forum is an excellent opportunity to understand the situation and challenges of the MedTech industry. Campden Wealth has brought together a diverse and highly professional selection of experts, speakers and presenting companies that, for me, represent the driving force of the MedTech industry, and this kind of gathering allows for that group to interact and grow together.
How would you say the MedTech landscape has changed post Covid-19?
I think over the last two years, post-Covid, we’ve really tested the resilience of the MedTech industry. Now we are back to normal, or what we should call the new normal, we can take what we’ve learned from our response and reaction to the pandemic. When things are changing, that’s when there’s the most opportunity, and that’s a great time to be a MedTech entrepreneur.
The sector is becoming increasingly busy, what would you advise to family offices looking to get into MedTech investing but don’t know where to start?
You’re right when you say that the sector is becoming increasingly busy. It is also the reason why potential investors need to study the standards and trends to understand where the MedTech sector may be heading in the future. It’s important to meet with entrepreneurs and innovators early to understand them and what they’re doing. If you get a handle on what they’re doing early, then you can make a good investment.
You need to have a good product and you need to have a good entrepreneur – a great founder can and will make the difference for a successful startup. As an investor, you don’t need to know everything, but you do need to know who knows.
According to Campden Wealth’s European Family Office Report 2022, tech continues to be a draw for European family offices, with 46% of respondents investing in healthcare tech. Why do you think there’s such an interest in this particular area?
I think one of the key factors driving the continuing interest in MedTech is the ageing population and the fact that there are more and more diseases that we need to find solutions for. They are requesting new solutions and that’s why there’s continuing interest in the sector. It’s an industry that’s very sustainable.
Campden Wealth returns to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the 33rd edition of the MedTech Investing Europe Forum (MTI) on June 27 and 28. For further information, contact Kevin Grant via kevingrant@campdenwealth.com.
Campden Wealth is not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment adviser or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies or managers listed in Managerlink or at any other Campden Wealth event. You should perform your own extensive due diligence.
