Problem Discussion: Healthcare systems are facing increased challenges, including aging populations, rising operational costs, and rigorous regulatory frameworks. These pressures demand continuous innovation, particularly in the development of new medical technologies that are safe, time-efficient, and tailored to clinical needs. Collaborative innovation between medical device companies (MDCs) and clinicians within new product development (NPD) is crucial to meet upcoming demands. However, misalignments in goals, limited clinician involvement, and system barriers reduce the potential for creating solutions that genuinely improve healthcare delivery.

Purpose and Research Question: The purpose of this study was to explore how collaborative innovation between MDCs and hospitals can be improved to enhance innovation within the healthcare system. Through understanding the challenges within these collaborations, the research aimed to gather insights that can lead to more innovations based on users’ needs, to improve healthcare efficiency. The study answers the following research question: What are the main barriers influencing collaborative innovation between medical device companies and hospitals in new product development?

Methodology: The thesis used a qualitative case study approach, with an abductive research strategy to connect empirical data with theoretical insights. Data were collected through 18 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from MDCs, public healthcare institutions, and regional innovation platforms across Sweden.

Results and Analysis: From the interviews, a thematic analysis was made, resulting in barriers to collaborative innovation being divided into organizational barriers within MDCs, inter-organizational barriers, and organizational barriers within hospitals. The barriers were compared to previous literature and the theoretical frame of reference.

Conclusion: The study identifies several barriers to collaborative innovation, including barriers regarding time and resources, misaligned strategic objectives, communication, regulations, and organizational structures. The key findings lie in the initial contact between MDCs and hospitals, which is limited by organizational structures, regulatory barriers, and a lack of trust.