US Export Plan - Sector Report - HealthTech & Digital Health

Opportunity states

The US is evidently a global leader in HealthTech and digital health innovation, with several hubs driving investment, research and growth. The following section highlights the distinctive strengths and emerging opportunities within the key states that are shaping the future of digital health.

California, particularly San Francisco is a global hub for digital health innovation, driven by its deep venture capital community and strong startup culture. Companies here benefit from access to significant funding and rapid scaling opportunities, and a technologically skilled workforce. The Bay Area’s integration of AI, data science, and healthcare delivery makes it a very attractive place for digital health firms aiming to grow quickly. ^[35] Beyond San Francisco, California has multiple HealthTech strengths. The state boasts five major science and technology universities, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Caltech, which fuel research and innovation. Southern California, especially San Diego, is a hub for BioTech and MedTech, while Los Angeles offers access to large healthcare systems. California’s scale and diversity make it a leading state across digital health, devices, and AI diagnostics.

New York benefits from a concentration of world‑class hospitals, payer organizations, research universities, and a rapidly expanding network of digital health startups and venture investors. Digital Health New York (DHNY) reports that in 2024, New York digital health funding rebounded by 60% compared with 2023, reaching $4 billion in 2025 and showing high confidence among founders and investors.^[36] AI adoption is a major theme, with AI-powered diagnostics, predictive analytics, and data‑driven care delivery being major growth areas. During the continued telemedicine surge following the pandemic, New York is a leader in virtual care delivery and remote monitoring tools. A key challenge Scottish businesses may face when exporting to New York is the market’s tendency to favour larger, more established companies, which can make entry more difficult for smaller firms.

Texas offers a combination of large hospital systems and a growing HealthTech ecosystem. Houston and Dallas are home to major healthcare providers, while Austin has become a vibrant startup hub. The state’s scale and diverse patient population make it ideal for testing telehealth, remote monitoring, and AI‑driven solutions. Existing Scottish partnerships and contacts in the healthcare industry in this state further enhance opportunities for international collaboration.

Raleigh in North Carolina sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, with the Raleigh-Durham life sciences cluster one of the most dynamic HealthTech and BioTech ecosystems in the US. The region employs over 40,000 people in life sciences, with 13,000 researchers focused on R&D, and benefits from proximity to Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State, which provide a steady pipeline of talent and research partnerships.^[37] It is also home to major contract research organisations (CROs) and digital health firms, making it a strong base for companies looking to scale clinical and digital solutions. Examples of these include Click Therapeutics, which is an FDA-regulated prescription digital therapeutics company, and Ovum Health which is an AI-driven prenatal risk-reduction platform.

Massachusetts: Boston is one of the most concentrated life sciences hubs in the world, with Harvard, MIT, and other top universities driving innovation. While hospital systems are smaller than in Minnesota or Texas, Boston’s academic medical centres are highly influential in piloting new HealthTech solutions. The city’s dense ecosystem of startups, investors, and research institutions makes it a prime location for digital health and AI diagnostics, alongside the significant influx of investment into the sector in this state in recent years.

Other notable opportunity states include:

Florida has rapidly emerged as a significant US HealthTech and MedTech hub, driven by a growing startup ecosystem, strong clinical research infrastructure, supportive state investment, and major health systems adopting advanced digital solutions. Florida has become a notable leader in telehealth adoption, particularly in South Florida, supported by both market demand and statewide policy frameworks. Miami is home to long‑standing telehealth innovators such as MDLive, acquired by Cigna for ~$1 billion, and newer platforms like HealthSnap, which combines telemedicine with remote patient monitoring.^[38]

Minnesota: Minnesota is a powerhouse in medical devices and MedTech, anchored by companies like Medtronic and supported by a strong supply chain ecosystem for design, manufacturing and consulting. The state also hosts large hospital systems such as Mayo Clinic, which provide opportunities for piloting and scaling new technologies. Its established cluster of MedTech firms makes Minnesota particularly attractive for device innovation and partnerships.

Overall, while the largest hubs dominate in funding and scale, smaller states may also offer opportunities through less competition and untapped markets. States with emerging MedTech clusters or strong regional hospital systems can provide fertile ground for companies willing to establish early partnerships.