In a Loop of Anticipation: The Anticipatory Practices of MedTech Industry Actors

The (anticipatory) governance of medical technology (MedTech) involves different types of actors. An important but under-theorized actor within the governance network are the companies that develop and market MedTech. In this paper, we use an anticipatory practice (AP) lens to critically reflect on the APs of mainly Dutch MedTech industry actors. We distinguish three categories of APs, provide examples, and describe complicating factors. Overall, we show that the APs of private industry and public governance actors are highly interdependent. We reflect on these interdependencies and offer the theoretical concept of an 'anticipatory loop' between public and private governance actors. We discuss the need for public governance actors to be aware of the uncertainties exacerbated by such an anticipatory loop and reflect on the complexities of an emerging desire to step out of this loop and anticipate together in an open and reflexive space. We make the case for an approach to the AG of MedTech that includes APs aimed at creating reflexive space for dialogue in addition to more long-term, standardized procedures.