[Medical technology innovation: why get involved and how?].

Medical technologies are an intrinsic part of our daily practice. More than a simple recipient of novel medical devices, clinicians have a unique role to play in medtech innovation. They are invaluable assets for testing devices and guiding manufacturers towards the most clinically relevant solutions. More importantly, they have a direct view on patient needs and can therefore identify unmet clinical needs. As these skills are not part of medical school curricula, new centers in medtech innovation education are arising across Europe following the success of US programs. These centers offer a full curriculum in medtech innovation so that doctors can more actively participate and foster innovation in their field. This new knowledge can allow us to initiate our own innovations and potentially influence the future of our own practice.