The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) of Rwanda co-organized the Kigali launch of a new study to address the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), conducted jointly by WIPO with the United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (UNTB), and Medtronic, a leader in global healthcare technology.
The study, titled “Strengthening Medical Technology Innovation Ecosystems to Address Non-communicable Diseases in Least Developed Countries”, examines how least developed countries (LDCs) can build and scale innovation for MedTech, i.e., advanced medical devices such as MRI machines, insulin pumps, ultrasound machines, and in-vitro diagnostics. Bangladesh and Rwanda were selected as case studies, providing insights into emerging innovation pathways and policy models to accelerate innovation of and access to medical technologies in resource constrained settings.
The study launch event in Rwanda was attended by over 30 senior officials from a wide range of government agencies working across the health sector in Rwanda. This included the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), local offices of international organizations and local MedTech innovators.
Siddhartha Prakash, Head of WIPO’s Global Health Unit, delivered the opening remarks and noted that strengthening innovation and IP frameworks can help LDCs to build resilience and self-reliance in future health crises. He highlighted Rwanda’s rapid progress in healthcare innovation and its growing MedTech ecosystem as key reasons for selecting the country.
Burcu Morel, Technology Officer at UNTB, emphasized the transformative role of technological upgrading in driving socio-economic progress. “Healthcare is no exception,” she said, noting that LDCs face challenges such as limited infrastructure and technological barriers that call for collective and innovative solutions.
Trevor Gunn, Vice President at Medtronic, described the study as “a fusion of very different players” and a model for public-private collaboration, demonstrating the value of sharing knowledge to improve health outcomes.
As keynote speaker, Dr. Claude Muvunyi, Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) highlighted the growing burden of NCDs in Rwanda. “NCDs are taking most of our resources, our attention, but also our people,” he said. “Rwanda is proud to be part of this study, and its findings reaffirm that innovation, when supported through the right policies, partnerships, and people, can transform health systems and improve lives even where resources are limited.”
More highlights and key moments from the event
During the launch, a panel of experts was convened to discuss initiatives and challenges in Rwanda’s MedTech ecosystem. Christian Sekomo Birame, Director General of NIRDA, highlighted the planned Joint STEM Lab, which will focus on AI, industrial software design, and data analytics to support MedTech innovation. Blaise Ruhima from the Rwanda Development Board discussed how the 2024 IP Law can help strengthen the IP and innovation systems and emphasized the need for ecosystem assessment given low patent filings in MedTech.
Jean Pierre Musabyimana, Research Lead from the RBC highlighted the importance of investing in diagnostics for early outbreak response. Louis Sibomana from NCST described support through the NIRF, citing a smartphone-based diabetes self-management project as a successful example. Christian Rwakirenga from the UGHE highlighted need-driven innovation, referencing the East Africa Biodesign framework for locally relevant MedTech solutions.
From the private sector, Zhengdong Song, Senior Industry Specialist for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) highlighted growing global MedTech demand and the IFC’s role in strengthening supply chains through financing, investment, and advisory services.
Advancing MedTech innovation and access through sustained collaboration
In closing, Dr. Birame celebrated Rwanda’s growing portfolio of health innovations, including startups focused on diagnostics, health monitoring, and health education. He cautioned that challenges remain, from regulatory hurdles to funding gaps and data privacy concerns.
“The report highlights specific MedTech challenges and gaps in least developed countries,” he said. “To address them, collaborations across government, research institutions, the private sector, and international organizations are essential. By leveraging diverse expertise, we can drive innovation that transforms patient care.”
The event concluded with broad agreement that advancing MedTech innovation in LDCs requires sustained partnerships. The Rwanda launch marked a concrete step toward building these collaborations and demonstrated that collective innovation can deliver tangible health and development benefits.
About WIPO’s Global Health Unit
The Global Health Unit at WIPO works to enhance awareness and understanding of the connections among global health, innovation, and access to medical technologies. Subscribe to our newsletter to know more.