At Kobe University, human resource development for medical device innovation is supported through the Medical Device Producer (MDP) Training Program (Entry Courses I & II) and the Master’s and Doctoral programs in the Graduate School of Medicine’s Department of Medical Device Engineering. In 2025, the Undergraduate Program in the Faculty of Medical Device Engineering was also launched.
And MDP (Medical Device Producer) is a creative leader who bridges differences in language, culture, mindset, and goals among healthcare professionals, corporate developers, and engineering researchers. Serving as the “command center” of a project, MDPs oversee the entire development process and lead diverse teams, making them essential to advancing the Japan-Style Ecosystem. Graduate students are trained to identify and understand clinical needs, take leadership roles in multidisciplinary teams, and drive early-stage development. Graduates receive the degrees of Master of Medical Engineering or Doctor of Medical Engineering, depending on their program. With the introduction of the undergraduate program in 2025, Kobe University now provides education and training for a broad spectrum of learners—from recent high school graduates to working professionals meeting diverse needs in the field of medical device development.
The Entry Course is divided into Course I (approximately 3 months) in the first half and Course II (approximately 10–12 months) in the second half. Even researchers and developers from non-medical device companies—or those with no prior experience in medical device development—can begin with the shorter Course I. Our program is based on workshop-style group learning (WS), where trainees from diverse backgrounds, including physicians, clinical engineers, and staff from medical device and non-medical device companies (planning, research, development, sales, etc.), collaborate in group exercises. In Course I, participants take part in needs-exploration workshops and hands-on seminars, including opportunities to experience cutting-edge medical devices such as surgical assist robots. In Course II, participants visit clinical sites to observe actual surgical procedures, medical device usage, and healthcare workflows, gaining a deeper understanding of the clinical setting. They then apply the needs-exploration methods learned in Course I. Based on clinical needs provided by physicians, participants repeatedly work through processes such as needs evaluation, value proposition analysis, idea and concept creation, and prototyping. The course also includes simulated consultations on reimbursement and regulatory approval, allowing participants to experience the early stages of medical device development through practical simulations.
Yoko Yamazaki
Otsuka Medical Device Co., Ltd.
Business Strategy Division
Taichi Ando
Osaka Metropolitan University College of Technology
Professor
Takuya Sonoda/Riichiro Shimizu
Teijin Pharma Ltd.
Medical Technology Research Institute
Shinya Akita, Nissha Co., Ltd.
Kazuaki Okamoto, Maruho Co., Ltd.
The 9th Medical Device Producer Training Program Entry Course I was conducted from May to July 2025, with 16 participants including companies, healthcare professionals, development supporters, and students.
The 10th course is scheduled to begin around May 2026. Details will be announced on this website once finalized.
The 7th Medical Device Producer Training Program Entry Course Ⅱ has been in session since November 2024. Five trainees (from companies, healthcare professionals), primarily those who completed the 8th Entry Course I, are currently participating.
In April 2023, Kobe University established Japan’s first graduate program dedicated to cultivating talent in medical device development: the Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Medical Device Engineering at the Graduate School of Medicine. These programs enable students to earn a Master’s or Doctorate degree in Medical Engineering while actively participating in medical device development projects. In 2025, the Undergraduate Program in Medical Device Engineering was launched within the School of Medicine. Leveraging the unique strengths of a medical faculty, this program not only trains students to develop devices that address real clinical needs but also provides practical expertise for bringing products to market in collaboration with manufacturers.
Graduate School of Medicine Department of Medical Device Engineering
https://www.med.kobe-u.ac.jp/mde/School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Device Engineering
https://www.med.kobe-u.ac.jp/mde/faculty/index.html
Graduate School of Medicine Department of Medical Device Engineering
School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Device Engineering