Healthcare & MedTech Industry in Hannover Germany

Q: Which healthcare subsectors are strongest in Hannover?

Hannover has strengths in medical device manufacturing, healthcare IT and digital health solutions, pharmaceutical distribution, dental technology, rehabilitation technology, and clinical research organisations (CROs).

Q: How do international healthcare companies set up in Hannover?

International healthcare companies typically establish a GmbH or branch office in Germany, complete CE marking requirements for medical devices where applicable, and register with the relevant German health authority such as BfArM or the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut depending on the product type. HIBS Germany supports businesses throughout this process.

Q: Is German language required to operate in the healthcare sector?

German language proficiency is required for direct patient care. However, for medical device manufacturing, healthcare IT, pharmaceutical distribution, and other B2B activities, English is commonly used. Regulatory submissions to German authorities must generally be provided in German.

Q: Can a foreign medical device or pharmaceutical company set up a GmbH in Germany through HIBS?

Yes. HIBS aGermany supports international healthcare and life sciences companies with GmbH formation, branch office registration, legal structure selection, and introductions to experienced notaries and tax consultants in the Hannover region.

Q: What is the Health Innovation Hannover Region (HIHR)?

Health Innovation Hannover Region (HIHR) is an open innovation platform initiated and coordinated by hannoverimpuls. It brings together more than 20 partners from research, healthcare, industry, accelerators, and public organisations to help companies collaborate, validate innovations, receive expert support, and access Hannover's healthcare ecosystem.

Healthcare & MedTech Industry in Hannover, Germany

The Hannover region is one of Germany's most important healthcare and life sciences locations. With Hannover Medical School (MHH) as its anchor — one of Germany's leading university hospitals and research institutions — the region has built a dense ecosystem of med-tech companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotech firms, and clinical research organizations that attracts international investment and talent from across the world.

For international companies from India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia seeking to establish operations in Germany's healthcare and life sciences sector, Hannover offers a uniquely integrated combination of clinical infrastructure, research capability, and commercial opportunity.

Key Healthcare & Life Sciences Facts — Hannover Region

73,800 employees in healthcare and life sciences roles across 3,450 companies in the Hannover region — representing 14.3% of total regional employment and one of the highest healthcare sector concentrations in northern Germany.

Medical Park Hannover — Hannover's Life Sciences Cluster

Medical Park Hannover is a dedicated business and research location clustering healthcare and life sciences companies around the MHH campus. It focuses on five core technology areas:

Biomedical Technology

Transplantation Research

Implants and Prosthetics

Regenerative Medicine

Diagnostics — both preclinical and clinical research and training

The cluster is supported by Gesundheitswirtschaft Hannover e.V. — the regional health-industry network connecting healthcare companies, research institutions, and clinical facilities across the Hannover region. Companies entering the region can also plug into the Health Innovation Hannover Region (HIHR) — the open innovation platform initiated and coordinated by hannoverimpuls, which brings together partners from science, research, healthcare, payers, and industry to turn ideas into market-ready healthcare solutions.

Trade Fairs for the Healthcare Sector

Hannover's trade fair calendar gives healthcare and care sector companies direct access to markets, decision-makers, and partners:

Pro Care — the trade fair for the entire care sector, held annually at the Hannover Exhibition Centre and organised by Deutsche Messe AG. Launched in 2025, Pro Care brings together the full breadth of the care industry — elderly, hospital, intensive, rehabilitation, palliative, and home care — with a strong focus on digital solutions, assistive technology, and workforce. Combining a trade fair with an accompanying congress, it has quickly become a central meeting point for care providers, decision-makers, start-ups, and industry. hannoverimpuls is present at Pro Care with a joint regional stand, giving international companies a direct route to local partners and networks.

HIBS Germany supports international companies in leveraging Germany's healthcare and care sector trade fair calendar for market entry and business development purposes.

Setting Up a Healthcare or MedTech Operation in Hannover

For international healthcare companies — whether med-tech manufacturers, pharmaceutical firms, clinical research organisations, or digital health businesses — Hannover offers a compelling combination of research depth, clinical access, and commercial infrastructure.

HIBS Germany — part of hannoverimpuls GmbH, the official economic development agency of the Hannover region — provides dedicated support for international healthcare and life sciences companies entering the Hannover market:

Market intelligence on the Hannover healthcare and life sciences sector

B2B introductions to relevant companies, research institutions, and clinical organisations in the region

Company formation guidance — GmbH registration, branch office setup, and legal structure advice for healthcare businesses

Commercial real estate access — laboratory space, medical office units, and industrial facilities in the Hannover region

Connections to Gesundheitswirtschaft Hannover e.V. and the wider regional business network

Access to the Health Innovation Hannover Region (HIHR) — hannoverimpuls's open innovation community, where companies make contacts, receive advice and support, and test new solutions in practice alongside research, clinical, and payer partners

Trade fair support for Pro Care and other relevant healthcare and care sector events

Because both HIBS Germany and the Health Innovation Hannover Region operate under hannoverimpuls, companies that receive HIBS market-entry consulting can move seamlessly into the HIHR community — connecting with Hannover's healthcare networks from the moment they establish a presence in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What makes Hannover a hub for the healthcare industry?

Hannover is home to one of Germany's largest university hospitals (Hannover Medical School — MHH), the Lower Saxony Centre for Health (ZGH), and a dense cluster of medical device, pharmaceutical, and healthcare IT companies. The region hosts MEDICA-aligned supplier networks and is a primary location for clinical research partnerships.

2. Which healthcare subsectors are strongest in Hannover?

Medical device manufacturing, healthcare IT and digital health solutions, pharmaceutical distribution, dental technology, rehabilitation technology, and clinical research organisations (CROs) are the primary subsectors in the Hannover region.

3. How do international healthcare companies set up in Hannover?

International healthcare companies typically enter Hannover through a GmbH or branch office structure, followed by CE marking assessment for medical devices, and registration with the relevant German health authority (BfArM or Paul-Ehrlich-Institut depending on product type). HIBS Germany guides companies through each stage of this process.

4. Is German language required to operate in the healthcare sector?

For direct patient care, German language is required. For medical device manufacturing, B2B supply, and healthcare IT, most professional interactions occur in English. Regulatory submissions to German authorities require German-language documentation.

5. Can a foreign medical device or pharmaceutical company set up a GmbH in Germany through HIBS?

Yes. HIBS Germany supports foreign companies in the healthcare and life sciences sector through every stage of the German market entry process—including GmbH formation, branch office registration, legal structure advice, and connections to qualified notaries and tax consultants in the Hannover region.

6. What is the Health Innovation Hannover Region (HIHR)?

HIHR is an open innovation platform for the healthcare of tomorrow, initiated and coordinated by hannoverimpuls. It connects more than 20 partners from science, research, healthcare, payers, accelerators, and industry, offering a community where companies make contacts, receive advice and support, and test new solutions in practice. For international companies entering the market with HIBS support, HIHR provides a direct route into Hannover's healthcare ecosystem.

All Sectors