Celebrating Excellence in MedTech: TAG Awards and Tor Alden’s Take on Innovation
The TAG Awards are a celebration of innovation and excellence in MedTech, designed to spotlight groundbreaking work across the industry. For the 2025 inaugural awards, The Aebli Group has enlisted an esteemed panel of judges, including Tor Alden, a renowned entrepreneur, MedTech consultant, and co-founder of Symphiny.
With over 35 years of experience at the forefront of design and innovation, Tor’s insights into product development, human factors, and patient-centric solutions make him an invaluable contributor to the awards. Recently, Tor joined Justin Starbird, host of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, to share his thoughts on the evolution of MedTech, the importance of design, and the critical role awards play in fostering industry growth.
The Evolution of MedTech Design
Reflecting on his early days in the industry, Tor shared a fascinating contrast between the past and present. “Back then, everything was beige and built to last 15 to 20 years because the technology wasn’t there to innovate quickly,” he said. Today, the pace of innovation is astonishing, with AI, connected devices, and patient-centric design reshaping the landscape.
One notable shift Tor highlighted is the blurring line between consumer tech and MedTech. Surgeons and healthcare professionals now expect intuitive, user-friendly devices, just like the technology they use at home. The focus has shifted from designing products for longevity to designing for agility, cost-effectiveness, and real-time needs.
The Role of Design and Human Factors
According to Tor, design is no longer an afterthought; it's where product development begins. In recent years, human factors—ensuring products are intuitive and ergonomic—have become integral to MedTech. He emphasized that well-designed products inherently enhance usability and compliance, leading to faster time-to-market and better user satisfaction.
“Designing well aids in human factors, which aids in compliance, which aids in customer satisfaction. It’s a one-plus-one-equals-three solution,” Tor explained. This holistic approach ensures that technology not only meets clinical needs but also feels seamless and invisible in its use.
Why Awards Matter
As a seasoned juror for several prestigious awards, including IDEA, Edison, and MDEA, Tor has a deep appreciation for the role of industry recognition. He described awards as a way to celebrate innovation and validate the hard work of product development teams.
“When you submit a product for an award, it’s a chance to step back and celebrate the accomplishment,” Tor said. Awards provide more than just a badge of honor—they offer invaluable feedback, marketing opportunities, and credibility in the market. For startups and large corporations alike, they serve as a secondary validation that helps boost confidence and visibility.
TAG Awards: A Platform for Recognition
With the launch of the TAG Awards, we aim to create a platform that recognizes the best in MedTech innovation. As Tor pointed out, the benefits extend beyond the winning moment. “You could spend a lot of money on marketing to get the same recognition an award offers at a fraction of the cost,” he noted.
Serving as a judge for the TAG Awards, Tor looks forward to identifying and celebrating groundbreaking innovations. Whether it’s a startup disrupting the market or an established player pushing boundaries, the TAG Awards will spotlight the exceptional work happening in MedTech.
Looking Ahead
As our conversation drew to a close, we reflected on how far MedTech has come and where it’s headed. Tor’s optimism for the future is clear. With advancements in AI, personalized medicine, and remote healthcare, the next decade promises unprecedented opportunities for innovation.
“Design is going to be the key commonality,” Tor said. “It’s what ensures that all these technologies work together to stay focused on being patient-centric.”
At The Aebli Group, we’re proud to host the TAG Awards and foster a community that celebrates excellence in MedTech. With judges like Tor Alden lending their expertise, we’re confident this platform will inspire the next wave of innovations that transform healthcare for the better!