Position leads to new technological advances in embryonic life-support system (8)
I believe the answer is:
placenta
'embryonic life-support system' is the definition.
'position leads to new technological advances' is the wordplay.
'position' becomes 'place' ('place' can be a synonym of 'position'**).
'leads to' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'new technological advances' is 'nta'.
'place'+'nta'='PLACENTA'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for placenta that I've seen before include "21 that feeds the embryo" , "Organ feeding a foetus" , "baby food" , "primary food supplier" , "temporary organ" .)