Sir Christopher O'Donnell discussed the history and drivers of medical technology innovation. He highlighted key innovations from Smith & Nephew over the past 40 years, including their recent development of OXINIUM, a novel zirconium alloy with a ceramic surface that shows reduced wear compared to conventional cobalt chrome in knee implants. The medical technology industry is global and innovation is driven by demands for smarter materials, less invasive procedures, and improved health economics. The UK has a large medical technology sector concentrated in regions like Yorkshire.