Celebrating 75 Years of Innovation at Medtronic??

Every time a patient regains the ability to enjoy precious moments in their life, it’s a momentous occasion. Those are the milestones that mean the most to us at Medtronic.

But once in a while, we reach a milestone as an organization that merits celebrating and sharing with the world. Such a milestone will occur on April 29, 2024, when we will mark our 75th anniversary. The small company that began in a garage in 1949 has now become a global leader in healthcare technology with 95,000 employees around the world.

Our co-founder Earl Bakken, in partnership with a renowned cardiac surgeon, pioneered the world's first battery-operated pacemaker and effectively established the MedTech industry as we know it. Today, Medtronic impacts the lives of nearly 75 million people every year.

That figure is the product of many things, including resilience, foresight, and courage. Most importantly, it’s the product of a profound sense of purpose. From investing heavily in research and development, to expanding internationally, to establishing new standards of care around the world, our commitment to our Mission – to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life – has remained central to our work.

As we look to the future, we remain driven by this enduring Mission to make an even greater impact. While touching nearly 75 million people per year equates to helping two people every second of every day -- we’re just getting started. As we look ahead to our next 75 years, we're committed to ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to the technologies that can improve their lives.

Our path ?

These days, the speed of innovation is exponential, and we are at the forefront of numerous technology-driven transformations in healthcare. In fact, with advancements in data and AI, we're redefining what's possible for those dealing with complex conditions – from developing closed-loop pain systems, to democratizing surgical care, to personalizing diabetes management, to so much more. At Medtronic, we know that creating new means of care is only the beginning. To truly make an impact, these advancements in science and medicine must be adopted as new standards of care globally. This is what Medtronic is renowned for -- pioneering the work necessary to make this a reality.

Part of that transformation is empowering patients to keep asking questions and keep seeking solutions even when they’re told nothing can be done. So many Medtronic patients over these past 75 years were told the same thing, only to discover that technology was the missing piece in regaining a full life.

In addition to our Mission, the other power that fuels these transformations is our people. Through the power of talented teams and diverse perspectives – all committed to our Mission – we're poised to truly revolutionize MedTech for decades to come.

As we recognize this important moment in time, our people around the world are striving to make this year our most meaningful and impactful yet. The best way we can honor the spirit of our founders is by striving to make an even greater difference in even more people's lives. Together, as a force for good, there's no limit to what we can achieve.

I’m humbled to be at the helm of Medtronic at such a pivotal time in our history and look forward to all that our extraordinary team will accomplish. Here's to 75 years of innovation, and to the limitless possibilities of the future!