As one of the world’s most innovative industries, the medical technology industry faces a challenging environment and turbulent times. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digitalisation and interconnected care are the features of the changing healthcare business. Simultaneously, regulatory requirements, disrupted supply chains, an increasing shortage of specialised workers, combined with new geopolitical risks and trade restrictions are a challenge to manufacturers and their suppliers. In the midst of all this tension, MEDICA 2025 and COMPAMED 2025, as the leading international information and communication platforms for the entire medical technology value chain, will be offering orientation, exchange and perspectives from 17 to 20 November in Düsseldorf.
Back in the spring, the MEDICA team revealed the new campaign motto “Meet Health. Future. People.”, a motto that indicates the programme for the coming year’s trade fairs and the direction that their themes and formats are going to take. With the participation of several thousand exhibiting companies, the full spectrum of innovations for forward-looking medical care can be experienced live in one place. Renowned personalities will offer exciting insights and best practices on the hottest topics of the day in talks and discussion rounds. Professionals from all healthcare sectors will be able to forge valuable contacts across the globe.
Two especially prestigious visitors are expected right at the launch of MEDICA 2025: German Federal Health Minister Nina Warken and North Rhine-Westphalia Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann have confirmed their attendance at the opening of the 48th German Hospital Conference. “A new start for hospital policy – Courage to make changes” is the motto of this year’s Hospital Conference, which will take place amid MEDICA trade fair events (in Hall 10) once again. In times when reforms, workforce issues and supply quality in the healthcare sector are being talked about daily, the appearances by Nina Warken and Karl-Josef Laumann on 17 November promise some tantalizing topics of conversation, in direct dialogue with high-ranking decision-makers from German hospitals.
Photo: Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken is expected to attend on the first day of the fair (© BMG/ Jan Pauls).
In the eyes of Dr. Jens Uwe Schreck, Managing Director of the Association of Hospital Directors Germany (VKD), the Hospital Conference’s venue is a real winner: “It was an excellent decision to locate the German Hospital Conference inside the trade fair halls. It allows even better and more intensive exchange between trade fair visitors, Hospital Conference participants and the exhibitors with their innovations.” With a view to this year’s agenda, Dr. Schreck regards topics such as hospitals’ resilience in terms of disaster management, complete with large numbers of incoming casualties, abolishing bureaucracy, and “purging the healthcare sector of excessive regulations” as being especially important.
A hotspot for “future tech”
Forward-looking technology will also meet specific applications in the newly launched MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM (in Hall 12), which will incorporate the topics of its forerunner, the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM. High-calibre speakers and start-up contests such as the 14th MEDICA START-UP COMPETITION or the 17th HEALTHCARE INNOVATION WORLD CUP are sending out clear signals: with its programme formats, MEDICA is the hotspot for the full spectrum of digital innovations – from smart wearables, through AI-supported diagnostics, to micro-medical robotics. In the direct vicinity of the MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM, the MEDICA START-UP PARK and the Wearable Technologies Show will be likewise contributing to this prestige. Also in Hall 12, the MEDICA ECON FORUM, organised by statutory health insurance provider Techniker Krankenkasse, will be making the digital transformation of German healthcare to ensure a modern, networked supply chain a focal topic of its conversations.
This year, the MEDICA TECH FORUM will take place for the 14th time at MEDICA in Düsseldorf. Experts from the healthcare market will present current topics from business, technology, science and politics relating to medical technology. Our association partners will explore the German and international market environment and the implementation of modern procedures and methods in clinical practice with you in a variety of ways. Program highlights include top innovators: digital and AI patents, patenting medical procedures and software for medical devices, artificial intelligence and MDR, update: registration in China, healthcare market Europe, future patient care and additive manufacturing.
Networking with the highly inventive founder scene
This year, the MEDICA START-UP PARK (in Hall 12), now a firm fixture in the Digital Health area of MEDICA as an exclusive networking platform for the highly inventive founder scene, is set to match last year’s record participation of 60 start-ups. DARERL ApS (Copenhagen), HeartHero (Denver) and OMMO Technologies (Texas) will be among the attendees. DARERL develops anatomical digital twins for virtual product development for medical technology and wearables. HeartHero presents a wearable, user-friendly AED, which only automatically defibrillates according to need. OMMO Technologies offers a magnet-based 3D tracking system for highly precise motion capture applications, which makes it ideal for neurosurgical, orthopaedic or dental interventions. The sensor technology can be integrated into various surgical instruments.
All facets of modern medicine – “hot topics” decide the agenda
MEDICA 2025 reflects the industry’s hot topics – not only in the Digital Health/Health IT world of experience, but in its other worlds of experience as well. These hot topics include AI/generative AI, robotics and automation along with interconnected care. In addition to exhibitors’ innovations for all outpatient and inpatient treatment phases, a varied stage programme and special shows assist in this endeavour. The worlds of experience included in the line-up are: Lab Technology and Diagnostics (with MEDICA FORUM), Medical Technology and Electromedicine (with MEDICA TECH FORUM and ‘Hospital of the Future’), Commodities and Consumables plus Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Technology (with the MEDICA SPORTS HUB).
Photo: The MEDICA + COMPAMED stage programme will address the industry’s hot topics (© Constanze Tillmann/ Messe Düsseldorf).
In conjunction with COMPAMED, which always takes place parallel, this comprehensive topical range and product offering is unique anywhere in the world. Today, COMPAMED is the world’s leading platform for suppliers to the medical technology industry. With its exhibition and stage programme in Halls 8a and 8b, the trade fair is an impressive showcase for supplier competence in key technologies and likewise has five worlds of experience: Manufacturing & Devices (e.g., components, parts, manufacturing processes), Services & Advice (e.g., research, development, services), Materials (e.g., plastics, glass, ceramics, metals, composite materials, adhesives, packaging), Micro Tech (such as microcomponents and microfluidics) as well as IT in Tech (software development and maintenance for medical technology).
High-calibre delegations & service campaign
MEDICA and COMPAMED were already a big hit in 2024, with more than 5,000 participating exhibitors in total who came from 72 nations, along with around 80,000 visiting professionals from 165 nations. A similarly strong international resonance is expected for this year – not least on account of a high number of visitor groups who have already announced their attendance. From the United Kingdom, for example, a high-calibre delegation from the National Health Service (NHS) will be arriving, with specialists from paediatric and even neurosurgical clinical care, among other areas.
Be they professionals from across the world or the exhibitors’ employees – all those coming to Düsseldorf will be able to benefit from a new service. In partnership with Kuoni Tumlare Congress, Messe Düsseldorf has created a new hotel booking platform on which numerous room contingents close to the trade fair are available at attractive prices.
MEDICA 2025 and COMPAMED 2025 will take place from 17 to 20 November on the trade fair premises in Düsseldorf.
The final day has new opening hours: the trade fair halls will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Professionals can embark on an exploratory tour of medical technology innovations on the first three consecutive days, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
