Christian Grosser, Director Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, answered FAQs about MEDICA and COMPAMED in a recent Q&A. MEDICA and COMPAMED will take place November 17-20 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
What can visitors expect in 2025?
A: MEDICA 2025 and COMPAMED 2025 will offer a comprehensive program with numerous innovations. Our new campaign motto sums it up. ‘Meet Health. Future. People.’ – that's the motto. What this means is that we bring together prominent personalities and a specialist audience from all areas of the healthcare industry. In Düsseldorf, they can make valuable contacts from all over the world. We also offer a comprehensive stage program with information and discussions on the most important trend topics of the year. This year's hot topics are: artificial intelligence, robotics and networked, telemedicine care. Of course, visitors can also look forward to the enormous spectrum of medical innovations from our more than 5,000 exhibitors. There will be plenty to discover in five spheres – from laboratory technology and medical technology to digital innovations and technically sophisticated supplier products.
Digitization is playing an increasingly important role in healthcare. What new digital innovations will be the focus of MEDICA 2025 and what role will the many start-ups participating in the trade fair play in this context?
A: One highlight in terms of digitalization will be the newly designed MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM. We have expanded this forum with its stage program to become the central platform for tech, digital and IT innovations. This is where networked health solutions, wearable technologies such as wearables and IT solutions for efficient processes in everyday medical practice will be presented and discussed. We know that digital innovations play a key role in the transformation of the healthcare system. At MEDICA 2025, you can get the latest information on current developments in this area, and this is where start-ups come into play.
MEDICA has been making a name for itself as a springboard for young companies for years. The MEDICA START-UP PARK and various pitch formats at the MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM offer start-ups an ideal opportunity to present their ideas to an international audience of experts and investors from all continents. Many successful companies in the medtech sector have made their first contacts in the industry here. The combination of networking, presentation opportunities and access to investors makes MEDICA particularly attractive for start-ups. And you will find start-ups not only in the MEDICA START-UP PARK and on the stage program. In total, several hundred start-ups take part in MEDICA.
As already mentioned, there is a lot going on on stage in addition to the exhibition. Besides the MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM, what are some of the other highlights?
A: The program highlights include the German Hospital Day, the leading conference event for hospital management in the German-speaking world. This conference takes place in the middle of the trade fair, which means that delegates only have to walk a short distance to see the exhibitors' new products. The MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE is also worth mentioning. This English-language conference deals with current trends in sports medicine and performance diagnostics. In addition, there are other specialist forums in the experience worlds that have exciting things to offer. The MEDICA TECH FORUM, for example, takes up interesting practical examples for international market development. Experts explain the background with regard to country-specific features and the approval of new products.
Let's turn briefly to COMPAMED. What are the highlights and key topics this year?
A: COMPAMED is the supplier show for the medical technology industry. The approximately 750 exhibiting companies will find numerous customers among the exhibitors at MEDICA. The range of topics and products is broad and ranges from components, electronic components and microtechnology to manufacturing processes and special packaging solutions. Innovative and robust materials for use in medical products are currently in particularly high demand. And digitalization is also a hot topic in relation to medical technology manufacturing. The COMPAMED stage program will therefore cover topics such as the use of artificial intelligence and how to ensure cybersecurity in medical technology manufacturing.
