MD&M Philadelphia will take the City of Brotherly love this fall. Here are a few things you won't want to miss at the show. 

Jamie Hartford

It may have lost the title of U.S. capital to Washington D.C. back in 1800, but Philadelphia will be the capital of medtech innovation this fall when the MD&M Philadelphia conference and exposition comes to town.

If you’re heading to the Pennsylvania Convention Center October 7–8 for the event, here are a few things you won’t want to miss:

Materials Conference

Materials science is expanding by leaps and bounds, and you can learn how to make the most of these advances to enhance your medical device designs in a special new materials conference track. Sessions will cover biocompatible and biofriendly materials, replacing metals with polymers, bioresorbables, and more.

Medical Design Innovation Sessions

If you’re in the business of designing next-generation medical devices, you won’t want to miss the medical design innovation conference track, which includes sessions on flexible electronics, the Internet of Things, wireless charging, and more. You’ll also hear from leading physicians about what they want and need from medical devices going forward.

3-D Printing Tips

If you’re not already using 3-D printing to speed up your product development, you’re already behind. But you can catch up by attending this conference track, which covers topics such as 3-D bioprinting, materials for additive manufacturing, and more.

Hands-On Workshop

Get your hands dirty in an interactive workshop run by Chicago-based design innovation consultancy Insight Product Development. The three-part workshop will cover identifying and assessing opportunities, driving innovation, and risk management.

Expo

Hundreds of top medtech industry suppliers will be on hand to showcase their wares at the event’s expo. You can browse the exhibitor booths to see the latest industry innovations, explore emerging technologies, and do business face to face. To maximize your time, sign up for a free speed networking event, which will pair you with other industry professionals that share your interests for 10-minute meetings. You’re sure to come away with valuable connections that enhance your career.

Free Giveaways

There’s no better way to get inspired than by getting your hands on the latest tech toys, so we’ll be giving away a free Apple Watch every hour on the hour at the event. You can register to win at the Center Stage and stick around to hear presentations on topics such as avoiding prototyping pitfalls and designing medical devices customers actually want to buy.

We hope to see you in Philly!

Jamie Hartford is the editor-in-chief of MD+DI. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MedTechJamie.