At RESI Boston June, Tecan joins as a sponsor, and a strategic development partner for early-stage MedTech and life science companies. In this interview, Jed Palmer, Director of R&D and Engineering, shares how Tecan supports innovators from prototype to scalable product, what technologies they’re excited to partner on, and what startups can do to stand out in the eyes of a seasoned engineering team.
Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Can you briefly introduce Tecan and your role within the company, particularly as it relates to partnering and innovation?
Jed Palmer (JP): Tecan partners with companies across life sciences, diagnostics, and MedTech as an integrated, global development and manufacturing organization. Within Tecan, our Technology Development group works closely with MedTech innovators to bring breakthrough technologies from concept to working prototype in months, not years. From there, Tecan supports the transition to manufacturable, scalable solutions through our global network and operations
In my role as Director of R&D, I lead cross-functional teams of engineers and scientists who specialize in early-stage system design, particularly for electronics-based, energy-delivering and high-precision medical devices. We work closely with startups and emerging technology companies to overcome integration, prototyping, and scalability challenges, acting as a true extension of their R&D team.
CD: What motivated Tecan to sponsor and attend RESI Boston this year? What makes this conference valuable to your team?
JP: RESI Boston is one of the premier conferences that brings together a critical mass of early-stage life sciences and MedTech innovators who are actively looking for partnership, not just exposure. For us, it’s a unique opportunity to connect with founders and technical leaders who are right at that moment where concept validation meets real-world execution.
We sponsored RESI because we believe our customers’ technologies have the power to shape the future of healthcare and drive meaningful impact. As engineers, we want to be at the center of that innovation, working side by side with our partners. Our goal is to be a true strategic collaborator, not just a service provider, offering deep technical expertise and scalable platforms that help turn promising ideas into transformative, market-ready products.
CD: What types of early-stage companies or technologies are you most interested in connecting with at RESI? Are there particular therapeutic areas or platforms that align with Tecan’s strategic goals?
JP: We’re especially interested in early-stage companies developing energy-based therapies, electrophysiology tools, neuromodulation platforms, and next-gen surgical systems, particularly those integrating complex electronics or control systems. Therapeutic areas that align closely with our strategy include:
- Cardiac and electrophysiology devices
- Minimally invasive surgical technologies
- Implantable and wearable therapeutics
- Neurotech platforms
We partner with teams solving tough engineering problems in power delivery, system integration, miniaturization, etc. Our goal is to accelerate their journey to functional prototype and scale.
CD: How does Tecan typically engage with startups? Are you looking to collaborate through investment, strategic partnerships, technology licensing, or another model?
JP: Our approach is very hands-on and partnership-driven. We focus on collaborative technology development, acting as an extension of our partners’ R&D team—bringing a multidisciplinary group of engineers, physicists, and system architects to accelerate progress.
We understand that no two companies or technologies are the same. Whether it’s a short-term technical challenge or a long-term product roadmap, we work with our partners to define a structure that aligns with their goals, resources, and timelines. Our focus is on building the kind of partnership that delivers meaningful value.
CD: What advice would you give to early-stage companies looking to capture the interest of a company like Tecan at a partnering conference?
JP: The most compelling startups are the ones who are clear on what problem they’re solving—and have a grounded view of what they need help with. You don’t need to have everything figured out. What resonates with us is clarity around the application, an understanding of technical gaps, and openness to collaborative development.
Also, don’t be afraid to bring your early challenges forward. We’re not just here for polished decks—we’re here for the engineering friction points, the integration problems, and the roadblocks that need real solutions.
CD: Are there any common challenges you see when evaluating potential partners in the life science ecosystem, and how can companies better prepare to overcome them?
JP: In the early stages of technology development, it’s very common to not recognize the assumptions that were made in designing a treatment. We like to see teams that are open to having those assumptions challenged in order to progress the technology.
Another common challenge is underestimating the time and complexity required to move from proof-of-concept to a robust, testable prototype. Teams often get stuck when transitioning from feasibility to development because the architecture wasn’t built with flexibility or scale in mind.
Companies can better prepare by thinking about system-level design earlier in their process. Bringing in a development partner with deep hardware/software integration experience can help avoid costly rework, especially for energy-delivering or electronics-driven devices. Early conversations around testability, firmware strategy, and control platforms can save months.
CD: Looking ahead, what trends or innovations in the life sciences space are you particularly excited about, and how do they align with Tecan’s long-term vision?
JP: We’re particularly excited by the convergence of energy delivery technologies, real-time sensing, and closed-loop control, especially in areas like Neurostim technologies and electroceuticals. These are areas where modular, scalable architectures can unlock faster development. We’re also watching the push for personalized and distributed care, which demands smaller, smarter, and more adaptable devices.
Our long-term vision is to be the go-to partner for teams looking to innovate faster and scale smarter. RESI is one of the places where that journey starts.
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