2026 marks a turning point for the French HealthTech industry. According to the France HealthTech 2026 Panorama, published in January 2026 by France Biotech and EY, digital health now accounts for 40% of the sector, driven by the rise of DeepTech.
But this growth also brings new demands. Compliance is no longer just a technical box to tick. It is now a core part of business strategy.
At Novity, we help HealthTech companies turn regulatory limits into growth opportunities. Our Product & Software Engineering approach focuses on systems where technical compliance supports business goals.
To show this approach, let's look at one client project: helping a digital pathology leader grow across borders
The challenge: Scaling in a highly regulated HealthTech environment
For a post-Series B scale-up expanding into Europe and North America, regulatory complexity should not block product delivery.
Our client, a major player in precision medicine, faced two linked challenges.
- Data sovereignty: With Decree 2026-209, the rules for certified health data hosting providers (Hébergeurs de Données de Santé, or HDS) became stricter. Data sovereignty is now required for hospital deployments.
- Standardising software delivery: Building bespoke solutions for each customer was no longer sustainable. The company needed a strong core product that could process large volumes of medical imaging data.
The solution: Compliance-by-Design software engineering
To support these goals, Novity embedded autonomous Product Engineers directly into the client's teams.
The goal was not just to write code. It was to turn complex algorithms into reliable, production-ready systems that deliver clinical value, with support from MLOps practices.
Our collaboration was built around four key pillars :
- Data Security and Data Marketing
We put strict rules in place to protect patient data and mask shared medical images. This is essential for cross-border clinical research.
These steps helped create a safer framework for storing and sharing sensitive healthcare data.
- Quality Assurance and Certification
In healthcare, software quality is critical.
Our QA specialists added strong testing processes, including web service testing with Postman and test automation, to help maintain ISO 27001 certification.
This helped improve the platform's reliability and security as it evolved.
- System Compatibility
The client's Platform as a Service (PaaS) had to fit into the daily workflows of pathologists, no matter where they were based.
Compatibility was essential so the platform could work across different healthcare settings.
- A Culture of Collaborative Delivery
Our engineers did more than close Jira tickets.
They joined backlog refinement and technical estimation sessions, challenging each feature from both a performance and security angle.
This close work kept technical decisions aligned with the client's product goals and regulatory compliance requirements.
The results: Secure growth and international recognition
By combining engineering agility with a strong grasp of healthcare needs, our client turned complex problems into real progress.
- A Faster Product Roadmap: By standardising features with Java and TypeScript, the team strengthened its ability to meet customer needs without hurting core platform stability.
- International Recognition: The company was selected for the French Tech 2030 programme and received multiple Best in KLAS awards, globally recognised honours in healthcare technology.
- Greater System Maturity: AI moved from testing into an integrated feature that speeds diagnosis while protecting patient data. This shows how solid software engineering can support international growth without sacrificing security or product quality.
HealthTech in 2026: Towards a new standard of trust
As highlighted in Deloitte's 2026 Life Sciences and Health Care Outlook, the healthcare sector is reaching a turning point for AI infrastructure.
The industry is moving beyond the limits of traditional SaaS models toward longer R&D cycles, where risk management matters more.
For Novity, the goal is clear: help ambitious HealthTech companies scale without letting technical complexity or regulatory compliance slow them down.
By bringing in experienced engineers who understand the SREN law and the challenge of turning innovation into clinical practice, we help our clients focus on what matters most: advancing treatments and modernising diagnostics on a global scale.
Sources
- France Biotech - 23rd Edition of the France HealthTech Panorama 2026
- La Mission French Tech - French Tech 2030 Programme
- KLAS Research - 2026 Best in KLAS Awards: Digital Pathology (Europe)
- Deloitte Center for Health Solutions - 2026 Life Sciences and Health Care Industry Outlooks
