On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Eurobiomed, Nîmes University Hospital (CHU de Nîmes), Med Robotics Place, and Nîmes Métropole, supported by the Occitanie Region, hosted an immersive event in Nîmes titled « Innovating with Medical Robotics: Opportunities for Our Territory ». Hospital stakeholders, industrial partners, and institutional representatives provided a contrasting assessment of medical robotics in France. While Nîmes University Hospital showcases the economic and clinical effectiveness of this technology, having performed robot-assisted surgeries on 5,000 patients and achieving savings of up to 8,000 euros per procedure for the national health insurance (Assurance Maladie), persistent medico-economic obstacles continue to hinder its widespread adoption nationally. The conference also underscored the achievements of the Occitan ecosystem, particularly Quantum Surgical, whose robotic systems treated their 1,000th patient in 2025.
Nîmes University Hospital has emerged as a key player in medical robotics. « We conduct 600 to 700 robot-assisted surgical interventions annually », stated Frédéric Rimattei, its General Director. In 2025, the institution achieved a significant milestone. « We have now performed robot-assisted surgery on our 5,000th patient », announced Professor Stéphane Droupy, Head of Urology at Nîmes University Hospital and a pioneer in integrating surgical robotics into clinical practice. This sustained activity underscores the successful adoption of robotics in the surgical procedures at the Nîmes facility.
« For the institution, a robotic surgical procedure incurs an additional cost of 3,700 euros, however…»
The economic analysis presented by Stéphane Droupy highlights the medico-economic paradox inherent in robotic surgery. Although the procedure incurs an additional cost of 3,700 euros for the institution, it yields significant savings for the national health insurance (Assurance Maladie). « A patient undergoing robotic surgery costs 22,000 euros, whereas open surgery costs 30,000 euros », he clarified, demonstrating an 8,000 euro saving attributed to reduced hospitalization periods and fewer post-operative complications. The surgeon further emphasized that the acquisition of a second robotic system can be profitable for the institution: « The institution does not incur losses with a second robot; rather, it generates increased revenue by enabling more complex and higher-value interventions. »
Despite this proven profitability, regional disparities persist. Jean-Claude Couffinhal, President of the Innovation Commission at the National Academy of Surgery, highlighted the unequal access to medical robotics across France. « We observe a 40% rate of residual surgery in France, indicating a plateau in adoption », he noted. This situation is particularly concerning given that « two regions still lack robotic systems », thereby exacerbating territorial disparities.
Medical robotics extends beyond the operating theatre.
Medico-economic barriers impede innovation. Stéphane Droupy exemplified this observation using the Aquabeam system. « We sought to integrate it into the University Hospital, but reimbursement was denied, despite its coverage in the United States, Spain, and Germany », he stated regretfully. This device, developed by an American company, « failed to gain traction » in France. For the surgeon, the conclusion is unequivocal: « The primary challenge for medical robotics lies in its medico-economic considerations. »
Medical robotics extends beyond the operating theatre. Nîmes University Hospital automated its pharmacy operations as early as 2011. Jean-Marie Kinowski detailed current developments, including the ASSA system – Automated Secured Service Cabinets – « capable of automatically preparing medication trays ». This holds significant implications for care safety: « Medication errors represent the second leading cause of adverse events. Robotization introduces standardization and comprehensive traceability throughout the entire process. »
« In essence, these are not robots; they are cobots »
Nevertheless, the term « robot » warrants further clarification. Julien Frandon, Head of Interventional Imaging Operations at Nîmes University Hospital, developed an evaluation framework for assessing the autonomy of devices in interventional imaging. « We developed a robot scale to assess automation, and at its maximum, we are at 4 out of 10. , he specified. The conclusion is clear: In essence, these are not robots; they are cobots. , collaborative assistants still requiring significant human intervention.
The future of medical robotics is predicated on the utilization of generated data. Julien Frandon elucidated the emergence of novel economic models: « This new robotic system is offered to us at a reduced cost in exchange for our usage data, strictly without compromising patient-specific information. » This strategic approach enables manufacturers to refine their devices: « Consequently, manufacturers can enhance the robot's assistive capabilities by training its algorithms with automatically collected data. » Arnaud Tellier, VP Product Strategy at AcuSurgical, further elaborated: « The true advantage of robotics resides in its digital aspect, by learning from our post-operative actions. »
The integration of robotics also presents significant organizational and human considerations. Arnaud Plard, a healthcare manager at Nîmes University Hospital, underscored the collaborative nature of the project: « It must foster cohesion, not division. » Planning represents a critical challenge: « Operating schedules must also be adapted, as planning a patient for robotic surgery requires considerable foresight. » Mélodie Martinez, a nurse at Nîmes University Hospital, attested to the impact on professional practices: « Robotics has transformed the nursing profession, necessitating the presence of additional personnel and more equipment in the operating theatre. »
1,000th patient treated by the Epione robot in 2025.
The Occitan ecosystem boasts an industrial spearhead: Quantum Surgical. Bertin Nahum, its CEO and co-founder, announced impressive results for this Montpellier-based company. In 2025, we treated the 1000th patient with the Epione robot, with approximately twenty robots installed. », he stated. The company rapidly secured key regulatory clearances in Europe, the United States, and China, successfully pioneering robotic applications in a novel domain for this technology: oncology and soft tissue procedures. Its expansion is coupled with a robust regional presence: « We have 145 employees, including 125 in Montpellier and 20 in Miami. »
Quantum Surgical also distinguishes itself through its rapid and unique development trajectory, notably exemplified by the acquisition this summer of Neuwave, a leading American manufacturer of microwave ablation needles. « Excluding the specific instance of Intuitive Surgical, the widespread adoption of robotics has primarily occurred in hard tissue applications, typically involving implant-focused companies acquiring robotic firms, » explains Bertin Nahum. “These companies have established an economic model akin to that of printers, where revenue is tied to consumable sales. With the acquisition of Neuwave, we now control the entire value chain, encompassing both the robotic system and its associated consumables, specifically the needles.”
France 2030 backs disruptive innovation within medical robotics.
The national France 2030 strategy is committed to fostering this momentum. Camille Tuvi, who leads the Grand Challenges « Surgical Robotics / Augmented Operating Room » at the Directorate General for Enterprises, announced that « a Call for Proposals, currently in its final stages, will be launched to support disruptive innovations in implantable medical devices and surgical robotics. » The stated objective is ambitious: to accelerate the development of next-generation surgical robots. The allocated resources are intended to « reduce time-to-market, strengthen collaborative research, and facilitate access to standardized data. »
This innovation day, collaboratively organized by Eurobiomed, Nîmes University Hospital, Robotics Place, and Nîmes Métropole, with the support of the Occitanie Region, underscored the dynamism of the health innovation ecosystem in Southern France. Eurobiomed, which convenes the health innovation community across the Sud – Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Occitanie regions, remains committed to fostering the emergence of global leaders such as Quantum Surgical. « This conference provided a crucial platform for dialogue among hospital stakeholders, industrial partners, and institutional entities to identify and address the medico-economic impediments to the national deployment of medical robotics » explained Emmanuel Le Bouder, Eurobiomed's Community Director.
« A key challenge for medical robotics is ensuring its favorable reception within our institutions », concluded Frédéric Rimattei. « To achieve this, it is crucial to share the inherently diverse experiences of all our professionals, including insights from failures, which consistently provide valuable lessons. In medical robotics, as in other fields, financial considerations are undoubtedly vital, but the paramount factor remains innovation management ».
