David C. Racenet

David Racenet is currently the Vice President of Research and Development for the Enabling Technologies operating unit within the Neuroscience portfolio at Medtronic.  Enabling Technologies specializes in the development of advanced imaging, navigation and robotic solutions for cranial and spine surgery applications.  Racenet previously served as Vice President, R&D – Surgical Innovations, part of the Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies Group.

Racenet is a proven R&D leader with over 25 years’ experience in developing innovative surgical devices, he holds over 150 medical device patents filed for global commercial use in Medtronic’s core product lines.  He began his career in 1993 as a mechanical design engineer where his work contributed to the development of numerous laparoscopic surgical products that helped revolutionize minimally invasive surgery.

In 2016, he was inducted into the Bakken Society, where today he is the current chair, for his innovation and original work throughout his career.  Named after Medtronic’s founder, former CEO and inventor of the pacemaker, Earl Bakken, induction into the Bakken Society is the highest technical honor given at Medtronic.

At Medtronic, Racenet has provided product development leadership, portfolio and investment management guidance as well as leading a 200+ person organizations across numerous global R&D centers of excellence.  In addition, while at Medtronic, he co-authored several publications in the Journal for Surgical Research (JSR).

Racenet received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and holds executive certificates in strategy and innovation management and leadership from MIT Sloan.