Adoption and Diffusion of Disruptive Technologies: The Case of Additive Manufacturing in Medical Technology Industry in Australia

Abstract

This paper provides the preliminary findings of a newly granted two-year project investigating the adoption of disruptive technologies, by focusing on the case of additive manufacturing (AM) in the medical technology (MedTech) industry, particularly implant applications. This is done by (I) stakeholder mapping of the industry in Australia. This included members of industry, researchers, academics, regulatory experts and MedTech consultants. (II) Identifying the top four major opportunity areas in which innovation can foster the adoption of AM implants, them being developments in Materials Science, Technology, Business Models, and Regulation & Quality Management. (III) Identifying and discussing the barriers in realizing such opportunity areas in practice, and finally (IV) recommending solutions based on the discussion and understanding of the proposed barriers that are hindering the widespread adoption and diffusion of 3-D printed medical implants. The impact of the project will be to unlock the potential of AM applications in the medical technology, which will benefit potential new entrants to the industry, incumbent firms, health care system, and patients in Australia.