Because of a conservative clinical culture and a skittish venture community, medical-device company creation has lagged in Europe. The reasons for the lack of device company creation are several: a physician community that is not only not entrepreneurial, but often averse to capitalizing on commercial opportunities; a venture capital community unfamiliar with devices; and a lack of

Despite the important role that French, German, and other European physicians play in developing and trialing new technology, and the equally important role that EU regulators play in offering a quick path to commercialization, the number of native European medical device companies is surprisingly small. There are hints that the bleak devicie picture might be brightening, however.