European CEO of the Year Awards 2026 MedTech CEO of the Year 2026: Piotr Szydlik & Most Innovative Spinal Medical Device Company 2026 Based in Białystok, Poland, Evispine is a pioneering MedTech startup on a mission to reshape the industry through innovative solutions that blend medical implants, robotics, and artificial intelligence software. The company was created to overcome the obstacles that currently block the treatment of back pain, steered by the visionary mind of medical device expert Piotr Szydlik. We spoke with Piotr to learn more, following his recent recognition in the European CEO of the Year Awards 2026. The World Health Organisation reports that most people experience low back pain at least once in their lives, and global lifetime prevalence estimates in published research reach as high as 84%. Today, chronic back pain is the leading cause of disability and workplace absenteeism, causing approximately 69 million years lived with disability (YLDs) globally, representing 7.7% of all YLDs. The economic burden of this condition is substantial, having a significant impact on societies around the world. Many of these individuals require surgical intervention utilising spinal stabilisation techniques, which involves rigid fixation of the affected sections of the spine. Unfortunately, in up to 20% of patients, this leads to pain in other areas of the body, as well as a persistent sensation of stiffness. For others, it offers only small relief, and their back pain typically returns despite dedicated treatment and rehabilitation. These results cause continued suffering for the patient, often triggering feelings of hopelessness and depression. This is a fact that has been accepted by many across the industry, though one pioneering company refuses to settle. Established by neurosurgeon Piotr Szydlik, Evispine has earned renown for developing unique solutions for non-operative and operative treatments. The company’s innovative spinal implants are based on personalised medicine, developed with the latest advancements of biotechnology and engineering in the areas of personalised spinal implants and dedicated AI spinal software. Evispine was born as the culmination of Founder and CEO Piotr Szydlik’s passion for medicine and technology. This is a longstanding love for Piotr; the CEO followed a biology and chemistry track as a high school student but also held a strong interest in computer science and electronics. Piotr went on to study medicine at the Medical University of Białystok, graduating in 1995. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the Medical University Hospital’s Department of Neurosurgery and earned his PhD in Medical Sciences in 2005. From there, Piotr began his professional career as an independent neurosurgeon. He lay the foundation of his work through fellowships and several months of training at the hospitals of the University of Iowa, Rush University in Illinois, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and the University of Newcastle in England. What’s more, the CEO also dedicated a year to working as a consultant neurosurgeon in Pamplona, Spain. “I have extensive experience in spine surgery,” Piotr told us. “I have never shied away from challenging cases; in fact, I frequently operated on patients whom other surgeons had turned away or deemed inoperable. And this is where I encountered the problem that became the very catalyst for my journey towards founding Evispine: chronic back pain, particularly in patients suffering from degenerative changes and overload. It is a widespread issue.” This growing issue prompted Piotr to question whether standardised fixation is truly necessary for all patients requiring spinal stabilisation, driving his mission to develop a new category of personalised spinal implants. Piotr created the initial prototypes, with constant iterating to improve them, and spent five years studying topics related to spinal implants, biomechanics, mechanics, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, and robotics to develop the final concept for personalised spinal implants. The CEO recalled, “At this point, my passion for engineering was rekindled.” After establishing Evispine in 2019, Piotr’s team completed a startup incubator programme and secured an EU grant to develop the implants. Drawing on extensive clinical experience and unwavering passion, Piotr and the Evispine team have successfully reshaped the future of spinal implants, touching and transforming the lives of countless individuals suffering from chronic back pain. We at EU Business News Magazine are delighted to recognise Piotr Szydlik as the MedTech CEO of the Year 2026, as we name Evispine the Most Innovative Spinal Medical Device Company 2026. Looking to the future, Evispine has recently launched a new project focused on sophisticated AI spinal software, a concept Piotr first envisioned more than 12 years ago. “Now,” the CEO announced, “I am currently seeking both an investor and a software house to bring a market-ready product to fruition in a reasonably short timeframe.” To get involved in this upcoming project, visit www.evispine.com today. Contact: Piotr Szydlik Company: Evispine Web Address: www.evispine.com
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