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Fundraiser: Earthquake-Shaken Mirandola Seeks Help Restoring Biomedical District

August 31, 2012 – 3:36 am

Mobimed, a permanent exhibition showcasing the past and present of the biomedical industry in Italy’s earthquake-rattled Mirandola district, has been the focus of many initiatives to celebrate the first 50 years of Mirandola’s biomedical cluster in 2012. Located in the prestigious Castello dei Pico, Mobimed was first opened in May 2010 and soon became a reference point for local medical companies, schools, the healthcare sector and others. Unfortunately, the Mirandola earthquakes on 20 and 29 May have devastated the region. Mobimed cannot continue operation under these circumstances and will need to be moved to an alternative location as soon as possible. As reported on medtechinsider, the series of heavy earthquakes and aftershocks that struck the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, have had a dramatic impact on the area’s medical device industry. The region between the cities of Modena and Mirandola is home to over 100 medical manufacturers.

“Mobimed had become a very important reference point for our territory,” says Dr. Paolo Poggioli, Director of Mobimed. “Large and small companies have had the possibility to accompany their customers and/or suppliers. They have met and trained technicians and sales people, organised seminars etc. Many courses for students, both from high school and university, have taken place here. And last but not least, the local people have finally understood why this district has become so important in the world.”

Poggioli, who was not born in Mirandola but came to the city 38 years ago, says: “Practically, I have spent my life here and I love this place. So I would very much like to see our district return to its pre-earthquake condition soon. Moving Mobimed to a new building will surely help a lot in this rebirth.” Poggioli is also the director of Consobiomed, the region’s biomedical cluster that manages Mobimed. The Consobiomed offices are also located inside the Mirandola castle and will need to move to a different location as well.

Paolo Galavotti, General Manager of biotechnology firm Nexion srl (Mirandola, Italy), adds: “From my point of view, Mobimed is important not only as a show room for the state of the art medical technology ‘made in Mirandola’, but also for a new generation of employees. Sometimes I am involved in the technical training of young people who have just finished school or people who would like to re-position themselves and change jobs and the industry they work in to work in the medical device industry.” He adds that knowing the story behind the products, markets, fields of application, technical solutions and incremental innovation, is a simple and effective way to stimulate vision and innovation.

“Mobimed is a simple but effective way to see the complete picture of what the local industry is able to offer,” Galavotti stresses. “It is not only a dedicated exhibit for medical products and medical devices intended as finished products to be used in hospitals, but is also an exhibit to see how the manufacturing process of medical device manufacturing has changed in the last 50 years – including plastic injection moulding, solvent dispensing, plastic welding, cleanroom technology testing and so on.”

All companies in the region are currently mobilising forces, making every possible effort to start up operation again despite the many difficulties and the uncertainty of funds. Mobimed also wants to support companies that have been impacted by the destructive forces of the earthquakes in moving to an alternative place and contribute to the revival of the district, the flagship of its economy.

Anyone who would like to contribute and help restore the visibility of Italy’s biomedical sector, may contribute to the moving of Mobimed with a donation. No matter how big or small the sum, it will have a positive impact and help the region get back to normal. For any further information on a donation or how you can help, please contact the director of Mobimed and Consobiomed, Dr. Paolo Poggioli, at papoggioli@gmail.com.

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