Episode 114: Interview With Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, CEO of Materialise

Category: Blog,Influencer Interviews,podcast

May 10, 2026

3D technology implants medical 3d printing segmentation

This is our second episode recorded at the Materialise headquater during its 2026 “3D Planning and Printing in Hospitals Forum”. Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, CEO of Materialise, joins The Lattice Podcast for a candid conversation recorded live at Materialise’s Point of Care Forum in Belgium. With a career spanning Johnson & Johnson, multiple medtech turnarounds, and nearly a decade building Materialise’s medical segment, Brigitte brings a rare combination of clinical, commercial, and operational perspective to one of the most consequential questions in healthcare: what does it actually take to scale 3D printing from a niche capability into standard of care? The conversation covers the metrics that matter — from patient volume to structural reimbursement — and why health economics, not just clinical outcomes, now drives how Materialise selects new indications and applications. The episode goes deep on the practical barriers to adoption: physician workflow change, preoperative planning, and the unique challenge of running clinical trials for patient-specific devices where no two cases are alike. Brigitte also shares how Materialise evaluates acquisitions and partnerships globally, what the company’s recent moves into simulation technology signal about its long-term strategy, and why structural reimbursement — already achieved for patient-specific hip implants in Belgium — is the single metric she believes will define the next chapter of medical additive manufacturing.

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute engineering, medical, or financial advice. The technologies and procedures discussed may not be commercially available or suitable for every case. Always consult with a qualified professional.

Guest Biography:

Brigitte de Vet is CEO at Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing software and services, since January
1st, 2024. She is also President of the Materialise Executive Committee. She succeeded Fried Vancraen,
who co-founded Materialise in 1990 and served as the company’s CEO for 33 years. Previously, Brigitte de Vet served as Executive Vice President of Materialise Medical, which develops software and 3D printing solutions that help improve patient outcomes. Under her leadership, the medical segment grew to become the company’s fastest-growing and most profitable business segment. She joined Materialise in 2016. Brigitte de Vet is an accomplished business leader with over 20 years of experience across multiple industries. Before joining Materialise Brigitte held various management, sales, R&D and marketing positions at Johnson & Johnson, ultimately serving as General Manager for Cordis in Germany and VP EMEA for Cordis Neurovascular. She led several companies through growth and transformation, including in her role as CEO of Acertys Group, where she drove a significant effort to improve operational efficiencies, strengthen the technology portfolio, and create growth. Brigitte holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA with a major in Engineering from HEC Liege.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Introduction
01:18 Setting the scene: Materialise Point of Care Forum, Belgium
01:53 Brigitte’s career journey: manufacturing, Johnson & Johnson, medtech turnarounds
03:38 Stepping into the CEO role at Materialise
04:37 Measuring adoption: the metrics that actually matter
05:13 Structural reimbursement as the clearest signal of adoption
07:22 How Materialise selects new indications: health economics first
09:21 The physician mindset shift: preoperative planning and workflow change
11:57 Two major company shifts: from implants to planning, from 3D printing to medical solutions
14:01 The future: predictive, personalized medicine using wearable data
15:29 Surgical robots vs. surgical guides: why they coexist
18:17 AI, SaaS, and the software layer in additive manufacturing
22:00 New frontiers: soft tissue, respiratory, and cardiovascular applications
27:31 Global markets: adoption gaps between US, Europe, Africa, and Latin America
29:35 Pediatric cardiology and the congenital heart opportunity
30:38 Materialise as a medical company: the JP Morgan moment
32:29 Three pillars of investment: education, evidence, and R&D
34:23 M&A strategy and the Pheops cardiac simulation acquisition
36:18 Life outside work: family, running, golf, and cold water swimming
39:08 Advice for the next generation: dare to be bold, stay close to the customer
40:19 What excites her most in 10 years: structural reimbursement at scale