Press releases
Biomedical engineering, an industry worth £16 billion a year in the UK alone, covers the interaction of engineering with the human body. The huge scope of this sector means that it crosses the traditional boundaries of engineering and can include aspects of mechanical, electronic, software and materials engineering. Until now, there has been no professional development path that recognises this.
Stephen Tetlow MBE, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:
“It is hugely exciting that the Institution is going to be able to provide a home for engineers working in this increasingly valuable sector.
“This new Association will represent biomedical engineers from academia, industry, the NHS and Government and will work together with other engineering bodies to advance UK biomedical engineering.”
Patrick Finlay, Chairman of the newly-formed Biomedical Engineering Association at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:
“Biomedical engineering is a subject with a huge scope – from pacemakers and surgery robots through to sports technology and equipment to help elderly people live independent lives.
“This industry employs 70,000 people in the UK alone, and every year, 1,200 students graduate with biomedical engineering degrees from UK universities.
“This new Biomedical Engineering Association will accommodate the full range of engineering technologies and support the development of biomedical engineers from student through to senior professionals.”
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established in 1847 and has some of the world’s greatest engineers in its history books. It currently has about 100,000 members, representing engineers involved in a diversity of fields such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries.