When it comes to medical technology, what’s good for the military isn’t always good for the private sector.
It’s often difficult for military researchers to find investors who will help them privately commercialize the innovations they develop, in part because the duties of military physicians are different than those of civilian doctors. That’s the case when it comes to both treating patients and working with others to develop new healthcare tools. The military may want a product that is serviceable and can be used immediately to help an injured soldier in the field, while the private market needs something that has strong intellectual property protection and can withstand intense regulatory scrutiny.
But there are products that can be developed for both the private and public markets, said David Spencer. He’s an entrepreneur in San Antonio, TX, who’s commercializing a medical device invented in the military. The reason that military tech typically often isn’t brought to civilians? People give up, Spencer said.
SOURCE – READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: https://xconomy.com/texas/2018/12/10/san-antonio-seeks-to-be-known-as-silicon-valley-of-military-medicine/