China leads in AI research publications for global medical device industry

China leads the world in AI research publications related to the global medical device field over the past five years, according to a latest industrial white paper.

Between 2020 and 2024, approximately 363,000 publications related to AI research in the global medical device field were published, according to the White Paper on Innovation Research in China's Medical Devices.

The paper, led by National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices, was released in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, during a recent international medical device exhibition.

Of the global publications, China leads the world with 81,066 publications related to AI applications, demonstrating the country's significant research strength in the medical device field, the paper said.

AI-related research in medical devices mainly focuses on the application of artificial intelligence technology within the industry, including intelligent transformation and innovation in various scenarios including assisted diagnosis, medical imaging analysis, disease prediction, surgical planning, personalized treatment and chronic disease management.

"Cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping the fundamental development of medical devices, driving the industry from experiential diagnosis to data-driven decision-making and from general treatment to personalized precision medicine," said Zheng Hairong, director of National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices.

The white paper provides forward-looking insights and decision-making references for government, industry, academia, research, healthcare and investment sectors, according to Zheng, also an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"It helps accelerate the transformation of more scientific research achievements into products and solutions that benefit public health, contributing to the high-quality development of China's medical device industry," said Zheng.

Unlike European and American countries, which generally focus on cardiovascular interventional devices, China has a distinct advantage in material innovation and new technologies for cancer treatment, according to the white paper.

Key topics in Chinese publications include the innovative application of nanoparticles in cancer treatment, flexible sensors for enhanced human-machine interaction and the innovative application of hydrogels in wound healing.