Q: One year after Solventum’s independence became effective, what have been the main milestones or lessons learned from operating as a fully standalone healthcare company?
A: We have had to unlearn what it meant to be part of a large industrial conglomerate, where we were one business group within several others, and instead learn what it means to operate as an independent company focused on the health sector. We also learned to listen to our clients and navigate in the world while fully committing ourselves to a segment driven by innovation, development, and responsibility, because we focus directly on patients. In Mexico, we also learned how to adapt to change resulting from new regulations and from the acquisition processes launched by the government.
Although we are young, we carry over 70 years of legacy, more than 22,000 registered patents, 170 employees in Mexico City, and over 800 employees in our manufacturing plants. Our vision is always to grow, innovate, and launch new products, but above all, to transform clinical practice.
Q: What have been the company’s main achievements in Mexico in recent years?
A: The first achievement has been the development of a highly robust commercial structure. We have also placed a strong emphasis on clinical education and have trained over 16,000 health professionals through online and in-person programs. In addition, we have participated actively in various associations and industry groups such as CANIFARMA, AMID, and the American Chamber. This has helped position us and allowed us to be recognized as an important player under the Solventum brand within the medical device sector.
Another accomplishment has been securing strong engagement across the Solventum team. We call ourselves “Solvers,” which comes from our goal to be problem-solvers. We have increased our commercial team by about 40%, both in front-office and back-office roles, while ensuring that employees feel passionate about working at Solventum. Employees feel aligned with our values and reflect them in their daily work. For us, people come first. Our purpose is to address people’s health needs, but we also place significant value on work-life balance. We deployed a well-being and inclusion model that allows employees to be increasingly productive.
We recently took an active role in the publication of the Hemodialysis Consensus. Renal insufficiency is highly prevalent in Mexico and we aim to contribute to improving patient health.
Q: What advances have been made in the construction of Solventum’s innovation and manufacturing center in Monterrey?
A: The innovation center, located in Apodaca, Monterrey, is now in the second stage of development. We have been coordinating with the Ministry of Economy, which has provided support within Plan México. The center is in the process of obtaining IMMEX certification. It will create about 800 new jobs in the region and will manufacture solutions that will greatly benefit patients and hospitals in Mexico, while also supplying the United States and other international markets.
Innovation is often associated with higher costs, but our goal is to ensure that solutions remain cost-effective, reducing infections, shortening hospital stays, and enabling faster healing of wounds that sometimes take up to a year to close. We are on a path toward creating many new solutions. Our objective is to continue to be recognized as the best provider for health services, as well as an ethical company that invests in education and complies with the regulations of every country in which it operates.
Q: How prepared is the Mexican healthcare workforce for the introduction of new technologies?
A: Professionals in Mexico are highly talented. Health professionals are highly trained and highly valued in the Latin American and global job markets. New generations were raised or trained with AI and smartphones, and they use devices extensively to search for information and stay up to date. It is not unusual to see a surgeon waiting for a patient before the next procedure while listening to a podcast about a new treatment. It is also no longer unusual for a patient to ask ChatGPT about a medical solution for a symptom they are experiencing. But this also creates responsibilities for both the professional and the patient, who must avoid self-prescribing.
The health professional must remain updated and take advantage of these tools, relying on scientifically validated information to expand their knowledge and improve medical procedures. There is much more to come in this area, and Mexico is readily adopting these technologies.
Q: How will Solventum shape the future of healthcare in Mexico and Latin America?
A: Our mission is to provide better, smarter, and safer care to improve lives. We hope to be remembered not only as a company but also for our values, which prioritize people and excellence. Another value is prioritization. In health care environments, it is difficult to distinguish between what is important and what is urgent. We will also work together, not only as a company but together with all stakeholders.
Finally, we aim to live with passion for what we do, which ultimately is saving lives. These values, taken together, represent how we would like to be remembered.
Q: What new products will Solventum introduce in Mexico in the short term?
A: We recently launched a new device used to verify the proper functioning of an autoclave, which is a sterilization system used in all hospitals. Previously, paper indicators and various wraps were used to measure autoclave performance. This system is no longer environmentally acceptable.
We launched a digital card with a microchip that immediately reads whether the autoclave is functioning correctly. The product is so innovative that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had to create a new category in order to register it.
Q: What will be Solventum’s main priorities in Mexico and abroad for 2026?
A: Our objective is to strengthen our independence. This involves an entire rebranding process, transitioning from the previous identity to Solventum’s identity, represented by the color green. This rebrand requires that our solutions be recognized under the Solventum brand. It presents an important challenge that involves not only manufacturing capability but also the rapid submission of technical documentation to secure approval at COFEPRIS.
The second priority is the launch of new solutions. We are already working extensively on new devices. Our goal is to consolidate ourselves as leaders in the sector and to be in the top quartile among companies in the industry globally, in Latin America, and in Mexico. These priorities will remain central to our strategy.
Solventum, a spin-off of 3M, capitalizes on 3M’s 70 years of experience delivering healthcare innovations. The company innovates at the intersection of health, material science, and data science.