Article by: Professor Rob Short FTSE, FRSC, FIMMM, University of Sheffield
This research project aims to understand how potentially challenging changes in legislation regarding the reduction/phasing-out of single use medical devices within the NHS can be turned into new business opportunities by manufacturers.
I plan to conduct semi-structured interviews with ~20 SMEs who manufacture products that are medical devices (class 1 – 3) that are single use or contain components that are single use.
All interviews will be confidential, anonymized and any original data / information will be held securely (and destroyed at the end of the activity).
Interviews will be conducted early 2026.
High ethical standards will be maintained (mandated by the Judge Business School, Cambridge University).
The focus will be SMEs in the Yorkshire and Humber region and the objective is to identify the impact of new legislation, BUT moreover the creation of innovation and of new business opportunities.
Any participating company will have access to the final anonymized report.
What I am seeking now is simply an expression of interest (EoI) to be involved in an interview (< 1h), either f-2-f or by video.
BACKGROUND:
A flagship strategy launched by the Department of Health and Social Care [1] aims to drastically reduce single-use medical devices through reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, across a 20-year transition toward a circular model by 2045. The roadmap outlines 30 actions, including updating procurement policies to favour reusable products and providing staff training to support behavioural change. Benefits include substantial waste reduction, cost savings, and support for UK job creation and supply chain resilience.
Research Project and Methodology:
The Yorkshire and Humber region has a strong medical device industry that is supported by national and local initiatives. By means of interviews (qualitative research) I intend to interview in the Yorkshire and Humber region ~20 local SME medical device manufacturers to ascertain:
(i) do they see reuse/re-manufacture as a business model to gain competitive advantage (vs. cheap imports) or a legislative burden?
(ii) are they preparing for this transition?
(iii) what are the roadblocks etc?
(iv) can we design innovative new products and business models
A number of supplementary questions will be formulated so that interviews can be analysed according to the type of single us device, price point, IP protection etc.
[1] Department of Health and Social Care (2025) Design for life roadmap. London: Department of Health and Social Care. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/design-for-life-roadmap (Accessed: 13 September 2025)
About Me: Prof Rob Short FTSE, FRSC, FIMMM
I have over 25 years’ experience in medical devices and new therapies. I co-developed myskin™, a materials-cell technology for treating severe burns and scalds adopted by the NHS and founded Plasso Technology, whose technology underpins the globally-marketed PureCoat™ range for cell culture and cell therapy. Both companies were originally founded in Yorkshire.
I worked at the University of Sheffield for 18 years prior to joining the University of South Australia, serving as Director of an advanced manufacturing research institute, Dean of Research, and later Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President. I founded further successfully companies that have raised over A$100M, developing advanced therapies for solid-tumour cancers, tissue regeneration and coatings that minimise biofilm formation on implantable medical devices. I am Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; I rejoined The University of Sheffield in 2022.
I am passionate about sustainability in medical devices (having now researched the topic for ~6 years). This passion and that for the region prompts this research.