The second edition of the European Digital Healthtech Conference will explore the challenges and opportunities of bringing health technologies to the European market. The conference will explore practical experiences from the field with a strong emphasis on international networking and cross-country connections. The composition of the organisers further reflects the conference’s focus on innovation from a European perspective. They include: Luxinnovation (Luxembourg’s national innovation agency), Medical Valley European Metropolitan Region Nuremberg (EMN) and its Digital Health Application Center (dmac) in Germany, and EIT Health, a knowledge and innovation community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
The event is supported by key stakeholders in Luxembourg such as the Ministry of the Economy. We spoke to the ministry’s Head of Digital Health Technologies, Carole Brückler, to find out more.
Dr Brückler, why should digital health companies and others participate in the European Digital Healthtech Conference?
Carole Brückler: Luxembourg is the country where we think international first. We initiated this conference to give anyone interested in the European healthtech market – rather than just the market in a single European country – an international perspective on the launch of digital health technologies in the EU. The event targets healthtech startups and innovators from all over Europe. It is also open to investors interested in discovering promising startups and new ideas, policymakers and any other interested stakeholder.
What aspects of the programme do you find most interesting?
The digital healthtech ecosystems are maturing, both in Luxembourg and in Europe. At the time of the conference, a final version of the regulation for the European Health Data Space (EHDS) will most likely be available. We will have a good insight into what it will mean for innovators and how Luxembourg can contribute to its further development. In this context, the conference will shine a spotlight on challenges of collecting and accessing patient data, the importance of data governance, and the technical infrastructures needed to use and share data.
We initiated this conference to give anyone interested in the European healthtech market – rather than just the market in a single European country – an international perspective on the launch of digital health technologies in the EU.
We will also look into the development of relevant business models for digital health solutions and how to provide strategic advice and guidance to startups looking for the best ways to generate revenue. Another key question we will explore is how to validate digital health solutions from a regulatory perspective.
A final topic, which is close to the heart of most startups, is how to finance the entire journey from the ideation stage to market entry. However, what I think stands out about the European Digital Healthtech Conference is that we don’t just focus on one or the other aspect but aim to provide global insights into these complex but interconnected topics in a logical and sequential way.
The conference is being organised in partnership with Medical Valley, EIT Health and dmac. What do you see as the main added value these partners bring to the programme?
EIT Health is a European public-private partnership that enables companies to bring innovation in healthcare to the European market in a simpler and more efficient way. Digital health is a key trend where this European connection is essential. Our German partners, Medical Valley and dmac, have strong expertise in the German healthtech market, and we are delighted to cooperate with them and bring visibility to each other’s strengths and know-how.
Why are you supporting the event?
Since 2008, Luxembourg has been building a comprehensive ecosystem for digital healthtech. We have invested in understanding the needs and opportunities of companies and developed the tools, services and infrastructures needed to help them become competitive. For us, the European Digital Healthtech Conference is an opportunity to take yet another step forward in the government’s ambition to turn Luxembourg into a digital healthtech hub that is attractive throughout Europe.
We think that the event will provide an array of useful insights for digital health companies as well as for the regional, national and European stakeholders that are supporting them on their way to the market.
The Luxembourg Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, will open the conference, which is yet another affirmation of the government’s commitment to this field. We are also delighted that the Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, will close the conference and highlight the importance of innovation for healthcare and for the future caring for patients. Together with our international speakers, we think that the event will provide an array of useful insights for digital health companies as well as for the regional, national and European stakeholders that are supporting them on their way to the market.
Photo credits: Luxinnovation/Michel Brumat