The University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center (BMDC) is shaping the future of health care by training innovators and advancing medical technologies that address unmet clinical needs. At the heart of this mission is the Innovation Fellows Program, which brings together scientists, engineers, and clinicians for an immersive, hands-on experience in medical device development. Fellows work directly in hospital and clinical settings to identify real-world challenges, then design, prototype, and test potential solutions.
The BMDC provides the infrastructure and expertise to transform these ideas into viable technologies. Its facilities include advanced prototyping labs, 3D printing capabilities, wet labs, and virtual design tools, enabling rapid iteration from concept to prototype. Each year, fellows and affiliated researchers develop dozens of early-stage prototypes – some of which advance into startups, licensing agreements, or partnerships with established companies.
This model of interdisciplinary collaboration has already produced medical innovations with wide-reaching impact, while also cultivating a workforce ready to lead the next wave of medtech entrepreneurship. By bridging research, engineering, and clinical practice, the Bakken Medical Devices Center ensures that the next medical device breakthrough is not a matter of if – but when. Read the full story: here.
The Bakken Medical Devices Center proves how the University fosters innovation that meets critical clinical needs. If you’re a researcher or clinician with a device idea, the Technology Commercialization office can help evaluate its potential and connect you with experts who can bring it closer to market.