Medical technologies

Scotland is home to more than 130 medical technology companies ranging from start-ups to international names. Many of them work alongside world-class research facilities in 14 universities and four medical schools. There are many opportunities in Scotland for people looking to develop a career in medical technologies.

The growing medical devices' sector in Scotland draws its strengths from a broad, multi-disciplinary array of technologies including:

  • Optics
  • Photonics
  • Software
  • Biomaterials
  • Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Nanotechnology
  • Imaging
  • Biotech

Scotland's strengths in medical technologies

Scotland is home to an established yet growing community of engineers and other highly-skilled people with unique strengths in medical technologies.

Scotland's key strenghths in this sector include:

  • Established, vibrant company base
  • Diverse, supportive supplier community
  • Ground breaking world renowned research
  • A highly skilled and growing workforce
  • World class tailored facilities
  • Dynamic industry-led support network

Working in medical technologies in Scotland

World leading companies such as Touch Bionics and Aircraft Medical provide highly competitive products and solutions from Scotland.

Many of the companies based in Scotland are led by entrepreneurs who've the commercial drive to exploit research and development in the healthcare market.

Medical technology employers in Scotland include

  • Dimensional Imaging
  • Biopta
  • Arrayjet
  • Touch Bionics
  • Toshiba Medical Visualization Systems
  • Optos
  • Axis-Shield
  • Vascutek
  • LifeScan

Search Scotland's life sciences companies 

Search life sciences job opportunities in Scotland 

Education and research in medical technologies

All of Scotland's 15 universities are involved in ground-breaking med-tech research.

Hotspots include imaging, cardiovascular instrumentation, ophthalmics, orthopaedics and implants.

The diversity of research includes radiography, bioengineering, biomaterials and biophotonics.  

Some of the main education and research establishments are

  • Strathclyde University Institute of Medical Devices
  • Institute of Medical Science & Technologies — Dundee University and St Andrews University collaboration
  • Institute of Medical Sciences — University of Aberdeen

Success stories

Read interviews with people who have already made the move to live and work in Scotland.

Read more