2026 Conference programme

Home 2026 Conference programme

Steered by a prestigious Committee, the MedFIT conference programme brings together bright minds to discuss the latest trends in MedTech, Diagnostics and Digital Health, to debate on innovation-driven topics, to foster learning and spark conversations that matter. International experts will address current industry issues related to collaboration, financing, and digital health.

KEYNOTE SESSION

DAY 1 - Thursday, December 10^th, 2026

Keynote speaker and topic to be announced soon.

PLENARY SESSION

DAY 1 - Thursday, December 10^th, 2026

10:00 AM
11:00 AM

Panel discussion

Innovation under pressure : Strategic levers for validation, capital access and healthcare systems integration

Europe’s healthcare innovation ecosystems have been facing a growing operating reality: higher evidence requirements, selective capital, stricter regulation and healthcare systems that remain structurally complex to navigate. For early-stage MedTech, diagnostics and digital health companies, bringing innovation to market is getting slower, now requiring credibility across clinical validation, regulatory compliance, reimbursement and strategic partnerships. How are clinical teams engaging with innovation and under which constraints? What are investors and corporate teams now expecting and how can founders adapt? How does this environment reshape partnerships and deal patterns? How can stakeholders better align innovation cycles with healthcare realities? Experts will discuss strategies to make innovation viable in current operating models and the levers that founders can activate to turn assets into clinically and economically relevant solutions for healthcare.

TRACK 1 - R&D Collaborations

DAY 1 - Thursday, December 10^th, 2026

3:00 PM
3:45 PM

Panel discussion

How big MedTech and digital health companies engage with startups in 2026

The time of open innovation has shifted towards more selective partnerships shaped by regulatory pressures. Between compliance, data access and internal risk management, large companies are redefining how and when they engage with early-stage assets. At the same time, start-ups face their own timelines and capital needs, often creating misaligned expectations. What collaboration models can truly work in this context and what can go wrong in partnerships? When does collaboration accelerate innovation and when is it not the right move for an early-stage company? Experts will lead an honest discussion on value creation, timing and the realities of big companies collaborating with start-ups today.

11:30 AM
12:30 PM

Panel discussion

Hospital-industry collaborations: From clinical needs to actual innovation

Hospitals are central actors in the initiation, development and validation of healthcare innovation. To drive patient-centered innovation, partnerships work both ways and are a non-negotiable element for value creation. Yet these do not happen organically. From clearly identified patient and clinical needs to early clinician involvement, those collaborations also imply structured interfaces and aligned expectations between start-ups, clinicians and hospital innovation units. How can hospital-industry partnerships be built and nurtured to ensure relevance, feasibility and adoption? Speakers will discuss the importance of such collaborations, practical models and the conditions needed to translate clinical insight into viable patient solutions.

DAY 2 - Friday, December 11^th, 2026

11:30 AM
12:30 PM

Panel discussion

From academia to industry: Scientists share their experience of entrepreneurship

Becoming an entrepreneur is not what most scientists have in mind when starting their careers – and yet, some of them took the leap. From the decision to step out of the comfort zone, to pondering the needs of such a position, and meeting the challenges of transitioning from academia to industry: entrepreneurs will share their inspiring experience, key messages and insights.

9:15 AM
10:00 AM

Toolbox session

Navigating early-stage validation in a structurally fragmented Europe: Pathways and best practices

Europe and its multiple entry points present a real challenge for early-stage validation. Its structural fragmentation between numerous countries – and as many ways of driving innovation – offers no single default pathway to founders which can lead to diluted efforts, scattered pilots and difficulty building a coherent, pan-European story for potential partners. How can companies choose their clinical and market entry points to optimise data creation and strengthen credibility? What validation strategies help build investor confidence? Experts will provide insights into concrete pathways and best practices to navigate early-stage validation across Europe.

TRACK 2 - Licensing

DAY 1 - Thursday, December 10^th 2026

2:00 PM
2:45 PM

Toolbox session

Due diligence pathways: Early-stage strategies

Early-stage success increasingly depends on anticipating the full due diligence pathway, beyond clinical and technical validation. Reimbursement strategy, mapping payment systems and identifying funding alternatives are now key signals of investment readiness. How can TTOs better support their spin-offs as businesses in progress, not just science projects? And how can companies structure their roadmap narrative to facilitate acquisition or investment? Experts will share insights and best practices to align early strategies with potential partners’ expectations towards deal-making.

DAY 2 - Friday, December 11^th 2026

3:30 PM
4:15 PM

Panel discussion

Digital Health: Driving innovation in a competitive and highly regulated market

Digital health innovation has skyrocketed over the recent years, as technology continues to improve exponentially. For these tech assets and companies, the life sciences landscape is paved with obstacles, though. Between the competitive race to market access, the new and still adapting regulations and the challenges of innovating in a highly demanding sector, how can young companies navigate today and stand out from the crowd to catch the eye of potential partners?

TRACK 3 – Investment

DAY 1 - Thursday, December 10^th, 2026

4:15 PM
5:00 PM

Panel discussion

Family offices, a driving force of European capital: What about healthcare?

As early-stage capital is getting more difficult to access, family offices are attracting attention from founders. From limited partners to increasing direct capital, and with a more professionalised practice, what is the impact of family offices on early-stage healthcare nowadays? Experts will discuss the benefits and constraints of different models, the possible challenges and how founders can work with family offices.

DAY 2 - Friday, December 11^th, 2026

10:15 AM
11:00 AM

Panel discussion

What is “early stage” in 2026? Investors on the evolution of the sector and the impact on capital

Early-stage no longer means what it used to. In 2026, tougher early rounds, shifting capital allocation and different speeds of innovation are reshaping the investment landscape. How are investors redefining “early-stage” across MedTech, diagnostics and digital health? What does this evolution mean for capital access, valuation and development strategies? This session will explore how the sector is adapting and what founders must anticipate to stay aligned with investor expectations.

2:00 PM
3:00 PM

Panel discussion

Can novel regulatory and clinical requirements reshape early-stage financing?

Regulatory, clinical and reimbursement requirements seem to influence what “de-risked” now means for investors. For early-stage MedTech, diagnostics and digital health companies, evidence expectations directly impact the ability to close funding rounds. To what extent are novel validation approaches influencing financing dynamics? Are these evolving requirements slowing innovation or creating clearer pathways? Speakers will discuss new frameworks and the impact on early-stage financing.