Meaningful engagement between professional societies and industry has evolved significantly over the past decade. The recent partnership agreement between the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) and Stryker exemplifies this evolution and reflects the strength, maturity, and integrity of the relationships that ASGBI has built with longstanding industry partners J&J, Baxter and Eido Healthcare.
Historically, interactions between surgical societies and industry were often transactional, with industry perceived primarily as a source of sponsorship to support meetings and events. That model is no longer fit for purpose. ASGBI has deliberately moved away from such an approach, recognising that sustainable partnerships must be based on shared objectives, mutual respect, and demonstrable value for all stakeholders.
Central to ASGBI’s strategy has been a willingness to listen. Rather than imposing a predefined framework, ASGBI has actively engaged with industry partners to understand what they seek to achieve from collaboration, whether this be education, innovation, responsible product exposure, or support for research. Crucially, these objectives are only pursued where they align with ASGBI’s core mission and where there is no detriment to professional independence, governance, or the interests of the membership.
The most visible and successful manifestation of this ethos is the development of the Training Village at the ASGBI Annual Conference. This initiative represents a step-change in surgical education delivery. The Training Village provides a structured, high-quality learning environment for both residents and consultants, delivered by experienced consultant surgeons and underpinned by rigorous educational principles. Industry support enables access to contemporary technologies, instruments, and platforms, allowing delegates to engage with products in a meaningful, hands-on manner, directly relevant to clinical practice.
This model benefits all parties. Trainees and consultants receive high-value, practical education in a safe and supervised environment. Industry gains informed, appropriate exposure of its technologies to the end users—surgeons who will ultimately deploy these tools in patient care. ASGBI, in turn, strengthens its reputation as a forward-thinking, member-focused society that leads on education and professional standards rather than passively hosting them.
Beyond conference-based education, ASGBI sees substantial opportunity for industry partnership in research, innovation, and service improvement. Collaborative support for investigator-led studies, registries, quality improvement initiatives, and responsibly governed innovation pathways can accelerate progress while maintaining academic and ethical integrity. Equally, partnerships can support the development of digital education platforms, simulation-based training, and workforce development initiatives that extend far beyond a single annual meeting.
ASGBI is clear-eyed about the responsibilities that accompany such partnerships. Transparency, robust governance, and clear separation between education, evidence, and commercial influence remain non-negotiable. When these principles are upheld, industry collaboration is not a compromise—it is an enabler.
Our exciting new partnership with Stryker is therefore not an isolated agreement, but a signal of intent to build on our mutually beneficial industry collaborations. ASGBI actively welcomes further partnerships with industry organisations that share its values and ambition to advance education, research, and innovation in surgery. Together, these collaborations will help ensure that ASGBI continues to lead, adapt, and deliver tangible benefit to surgeons and patients alike in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Giles Bond-Smith
Director of Finance, ASGBI
