Mediclinic Middle East partners with Hub71 to support healthtech startups in Abu Dhabi

UAE—Mediclinic Middle East and Hub71 have signed a strategic partnership in Abu Dhabi to give healthcare technology startups access to clinical expertise and real-world insights, helping them develop and validate solutions for healthcare settings.

Formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026, the agreement brings together Mediclinic Middle East’s clinical network and Hub71’s technology startup community.

The partnership will support the development of healthcare technologies and explore opportunities to introduce relevant innovations into clinical practice.

Clinical expertise for HealthTech startups

Under the agreement, Mediclinic Middle East will engage with HealthTech startups within Hub71+ Life Sciences to identify potential collaborations and provide clinical guidance.

This input will help founders refine their products, assess their practical applications and better understand healthcare providers’ needs.

Mediclinic Middle East will also explore technologies aligned with its clinical priorities, including cancer care, fertility and in vitro fertilisation (IVF), musculoskeletal services, chronic disease management, women’s health, virtual care, care beyond the hospital, and clinical augmentation.

Hein van Eck, chief executive officer of Mediclinic Middle East, said innovation must translate into improvements in patient care.

Through the partnership, the healthcare provider aims to help promising technologies undergo evaluation in real clinical environments, with input from healthcare professionals.

He added that combining clinical expertise with entrepreneurial capabilities could help developers address practical healthcare challenges while supporting Abu Dhabi’s life sciences sector.

Basma AlBadi AlDhaheri, head of growth and value creation at Hub71, said startups need access to industry partners and opportunities to validate their technologies to advance healthcare innovation.

She noted that the partnership would help bridge the gap between technology development and adoption by enabling startups to refine, test and commercialise solutions with input from a healthcare provider.

Expanding Abu Dhabi’s life sciences ecosystem

Mediclinic Middle East will also contribute to mentorship and knowledge-sharing activities within Hub71+ Life Sciences, giving startups further opportunities to draw on its clinical and operational expertise.

Launched in 2025, Hub71+ Life Sciences supports innovation across biotechnology, medical technology and digital health.

Its founding partners include the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Drug Establishment and the Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) cluster.

The ecosystem connects startups with healthcare providers, regulators and investors to support the development, validation and commercialisation of healthcare technologies.

For startups, access to clinical expertise can help identify unmet needs, inform product development, and assess whether emerging technologies suit healthcare settings.

For providers, engagement with technology developers offers opportunities to explore solutions aligned with clinical priorities and service delivery requirements.

The agreement adds Mediclinic Middle East to Hub71+ Life Sciences’ network of healthcare partners, expanding opportunities for collaboration between healthcare providers and startups developing new medical and digital health solutions.

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