The first portable pacemaker was invented in a Minneapolis garage by an electrical engineer named Earl Bakken in 1958. Since then, Minnesota has a become a global hub of medical technology innovation and development--a crossroads of entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, industry heavyweights, and financiers. The state has spawned countless medtech breakthroughs, from new types of artificial heart valves to electrical treatments for Parkinson's disease. But Minnesota's long-held dominance in the medtech field might be waning, writes Sarah Laskow in the July/August issue of Foreign Policy. Sluggish regulatory processes, ossified business models, and foreign competition have driven firms and investors away from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and toward places like China, Europe, and Malaysia. If things don't change, the implications could be devastating for U.S. medtech innovation -- and for Minnesota's economy. "If the state's industry and the infrastructure that supports it can't adapt to changing circumstances," writes Laskow, "a hole could... rip open as medtech's epicenter moves to the other side of the world." Here, photographer Christopher Leaman looks at the bleeding edge of Minnesota's medtech industry -- and the people behind it. Above, a scientist at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute displays a mouse heart from which cells have been removed. The institute is now hoping to repopulate it with human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
The first portable pacemaker was invented in a Minneapolis garage by an electrical engineer named Earl Bakken in 1958. Since then, Minnesota has a become a global hub of medical technology innovation and development--a crossroads of entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, industry heavyweights, and financiers. The state has spawned countless medtech breakthroughs, from new types of artificial heart valves to electrical treatments for Parkinson's disease. But Minnesota's long-held dominance in the medtech field might be waning, writes Sarah Laskow in the July/August issue of Foreign Policy. Sluggish regulatory processes, ossified business models, and foreign competition have driven firms and investors away from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and toward places like China, Europe, and Malaysia. If things don't change, the implications could be devastating for U.S. medtech innovation -- and for Minnesota's economy. "If the state's industry and the infrastructure that supports it can't adapt to changing circumstances," writes Laskow, "a hole could... rip open as medtech's epicenter moves to the other side of the world." Here, photographer Christopher Leaman looks at the bleeding edge of Minnesota's medtech industry -- and the people behind it. Above, a scientist at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute displays a mouse heart from which cells have been removed. The institute is now hoping to repopulate it with human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
The first portable pacemaker was invented in a Minneapolis garage by an electrical engineer named Earl Bakken in 1958. Since then, Minnesota has a become a global hub of medical technology innovation and development--a crossroads of entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, industry heavyweights, and financiers. The state has spawned countless medtech breakthroughs, from new types of artificial heart valves to electrical treatments for Parkinson's disease.
But Minnesota's long-held dominance in the medtech field might be waning, writes Sarah Laskow in the July/August issue of Foreign Policy. Sluggish regulatory processes, ossified business models, and foreign competition have driven firms and investors away from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and toward places like China, Europe, and Malaysia. If things don't change, the implications could be devastating for U.S. medtech innovation -- and for Minnesota's economy. "If the state's industry and the infrastructure that supports it can't adapt to changing circumstances," writes Laskow, "a hole could... rip open as medtech's epicenter moves to the other side of the world."
Here, photographer Christopher Leaman looks at the bleeding edge of Minnesota's medtech industry -- and the people behind it. Above, a scientist at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute displays a mouse heart from which cells have been removed. The institute is now hoping to repopulate it with human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
The Barostim neo, produced by the firm CVRx in Minneapolis, which helps lower blood pressure.
The Barostim neo, produced by the firm CVRx in Minneapolis, which helps lower blood pressure.
A prep and supply area in the Lillehei Heart Institute's labs.
A prep and supply area in the Lillehei Heart Institute's labs.
CVRx founder Robert Kieval next to patents and trademarks mounted at CVRx's Minneapolis headquarters.
CVRx founder Robert Kieval next to patents and trademarks mounted at CVRx's Minneapolis headquarters.
A circuit board used to test CVRx's Barostim neo at the company's Minneapolis headquarters.
A circuit board used to test CVRx's Barostim neo at the company's Minneapolis headquarters.
A photograph documenting a successful implantation of CVRx's Barostim neo at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland.
A photograph documenting a successful implantation of CVRx's Barostim neo at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland.
A researcher at the Lillehei Heart Institute sorts stem cells in the Institute's labs.
A researcher at the Lillehei Heart Institute sorts stem cells in the Institute's labs.
The programmer system, a device used to wirelessly adjust therapy settings on implanted Barostim neo devices, at the CVRx headquarters in Minneapolis.
The programmer system, a device used to wirelessly adjust therapy settings on implanted Barostim neo devices, at the CVRx headquarters in Minneapolis.
Researchers Kathy Bowlin and B.N. Singh extract protein from cells and analyze data at the Lillehei Heart Institute.
Researchers Kathy Bowlin and B.N. Singh extract protein from cells and analyze data at the Lillehei Heart Institute.
Culture media, liquids used to nourish and grow cells for use in cardiovascular research, at the Lillehei Heart Institute.
Culture media, liquids used to nourish and grow cells for use in cardiovascular research, at the Lillehei Heart Institute.
A researcher at the University of Minnesota examines stem cells.
A researcher at the University of Minnesota examines stem cells.
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The first portable pacemaker was invented in a Minneapolis garage by an electrical engineer named Earl Bakken in 1958. Since then, Minnesota has a become a global hub of medical technology innovation and development--a crossroads of entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, industry heavyweights, and financiers. The state has spawned countless medtech breakthroughs, from new types of artificial heart valves to electrical treatments for Parkinson's disease. But Minnesota's long-held dominance in the medtech field might be waning, writes Sarah Laskow in the July/August issue of Foreign Policy. Sluggish regulatory processes, ossified business models, and foreign competition have driven firms and investors away from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and toward places like China, Europe, and Malaysia. If things don't change, the implications could be devastating for U.S. medtech innovation -- and for Minnesota's economy. "If the state's industry and the infrastructure that supports it can't adapt to changing circumstances," writes Laskow, "a hole could... rip open as medtech's epicenter moves to the other side of the world." Here, photographer Christopher Leaman looks at the bleeding edge of Minnesota's medtech industry -- and the people behind it. Above, a scientist at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute displays a mouse heart from which cells have been removed. The institute is now hoping to repopulate it with human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
Two years into his first term, how has U.S. President Joe Biden fared on foreign policy? Is there a clear Biden doctrine? Is America in a stronger or weaker position globally?
The answers ...Show moredepend on whom you ask.
Join FP’s Ravi Agrawal for a lively discussion about the Biden administration’s foreign-policy successes and failures half way through his first term, with Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Nadia Schadlow, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a former U.S. deputy national security advisor for strategy during the Trump administration.
The first portable pacemaker was invented in a Minneapolis garage by an electrical engineer named Earl Bakken in 1958. Since then, Minnesota has a become a global hub of medical technology innovation and development--a crossroads of entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, industry heavyweights, and financiers. The state has spawned countless medtech breakthroughs, from new types of artificial heart valves to electrical treatments for Parkinson's disease. But Minnesota's long-held dominance in the medtech field might be waning, writes Sarah Laskow in the July/August issue of Foreign Policy. Sluggish regulatory processes, ossified business models, and foreign competition have driven firms and investors away from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and toward places like China, Europe, and Malaysia. If things don't change, the implications could be devastating for U.S. medtech innovation -- and for Minnesota's economy. "If the state's industry and the infrastructure that supports it can't adapt to changing circumstances," writes Laskow, "a hole could... rip open as medtech's epicenter moves to the other side of the world." Here, photographer Christopher Leaman looks at the bleeding edge of Minnesota's medtech industry -- and the people behind it. Above, a scientist at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute displays a mouse heart from which cells have been removed. The institute is now hoping to repopulate it with human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
With a Russian offensive brewing in the southeast region of Ukraine, Western governments are scrambling to keep up arms shipments. Has Russian President Vladimir Putin learned the lessons fr...Show moreom his last, disastrous mobilization? And what does Ukraine need from the West to prepare for the next one?
Alongside land war in Europe, increased tensions between the United States and China have caused alliances to shift. With new players on the rise and geopolitical interests changing dramatically, FP reporters will share what they’ve been hearing from key global players.
For the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war and a look at what’s to come in geopolitics, join FP’s executive editor, Amelia Lester, and FP’s team of reporters for a timely conversation.
The first portable pacemaker was invented in a Minneapolis garage by an electrical engineer named Earl Bakken in 1958. Since then, Minnesota has a become a global hub of medical technology innovation and development--a crossroads of entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, industry heavyweights, and financiers. The state has spawned countless medtech breakthroughs, from new types of artificial heart valves to electrical treatments for Parkinson's disease. But Minnesota's long-held dominance in the medtech field might be waning, writes Sarah Laskow in the July/August issue of Foreign Policy. Sluggish regulatory processes, ossified business models, and foreign competition have driven firms and investors away from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and toward places like China, Europe, and Malaysia. If things don't change, the implications could be devastating for U.S. medtech innovation -- and for Minnesota's economy. "If the state's industry and the infrastructure that supports it can't adapt to changing circumstances," writes Laskow, "a hole could... rip open as medtech's epicenter moves to the other side of the world." Here, photographer Christopher Leaman looks at the bleeding edge of Minnesota's medtech industry -- and the people behind it. Above, a scientist at the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute displays a mouse heart from which cells have been removed. The institute is now hoping to repopulate it with human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
The last few years have brought historic challenges for multinational companies. Nationalism and protectionism were already on the rise when COVID-19 shut down global supply chains. Then Rus...Show moresia invaded Ukraine, and businesses around the world confronted a decision on whether to pull out of the Russian market. It raises a series of questions: In a fractured world, how do companies with large global footprints decide which side to pick? How does industry define it values? And what happens if the United States and China continue down a path of decoupling?
FP’s Ravi Agrawal sat down with industry leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss how businesses can build resilience amid a turbulent geopolitical era. The panelists included Anne Richards, CEO of Fidelity International; Carmine Di Sibio, CEO of Ernst & Young; Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore; and Lubna S. Olayan, chair of the executive committee of Olayan Financing Company.
Watch the full interview for insights on how industry thinks about deglobalization, the U.S.-China rivalry, the war in Ukraine, and much more. Or read a transcribed Q&A here.
Also this week in Davos, Ravi convened four business leaders from the energy sector to examine how digital technologies and data can help reduce the energy industry’s carbon emissions. Speakers included Boston Consulting Group CEO Christoph Schweizer, Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark, Schneider Electric CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire, and SLB’s Dr. Katharina Beumelburg. Watch the full discussion here.
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