Events

Under the theme “The Digital Revolution of Healthcare”, the event will explore how digital innovations – and artificial intelligence in particular – are already transforming medical processes today, and the opportunities this creates for companies, professionals, and patients alike. To this end, bwcon brings together experts from medicine, research, business, and innovation for keynotes, panel discussions, and networking in Freiburg.

Key questions include:

• What opportunities are emerging for companies in the global healthcare market?
• What does the significant increase in efficiency and speed driven by AI mean for healthcare systems?
• How do digital technologies impact patients, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole?

The event is a collaborative initiative organized by the German American Business Community, bwcon GmbH, the City of Freiburg, and the UWC Robert Bosch College.

• Location: UWC Robert Bosch College, Kartäuserstraße 119, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau
• Date & Time: April 29, 2026, 3:30–7:00 p.m.
• Participation: Free of charge | Registration required
• Event language: English

Program highlights

The keynote speaker is Anna Maria Braun, CEO of B. Braun SE, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, which is also represented in Freiburg through B. Braun New Ventures. The event will be moderated by Lisa Tschalenko.

Panelists include:

• Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer, University Medical Center Freiburg
• Prof. Dr. Phillip Kellmeyer, MD, M.Phil., Head of the Human‑Technology Interaction Lab, University Medical Center Freiburg
• Dr. Nada Abedin, MD, Founder, AI x Medical
• Lilia Sprich, Director Manufacturing, Pfizer
• Jonathan Garfinkel, Author and Patient
• Fanny Giannou, Founder and CEO, Alithea Bio
• Laura Wiebelitz, Senior Project Manager, Robert Bosch Institute for Innovative Health

Meet the Hub Team

Peter Neske from the Healthcare Hub Freiburg will be on site and happy to share his perspective on the potential of digital technologies in healthcare. He will also be available to answer questions about collaboration opportunities between Pfizer and tech companies.

Focus topics at DMEA: AI, health data, interoperability, and secure digital solutions

DMEA is widely recognized as a central platform for the digital transformation of healthcare. The goal of the event is to connect stakeholders from healthcare delivery, industry, science, and politics—and to bring digital solutions into real‑world practice.
The thematic focus of DMEA 2026 will be on practical, scalable, and regulatory‑compliant digital health solutions.

Meet the Hub Team

Pfizer is using DMEA 2026 as an opportunity to exchange ideas with experts, decision‑makers, and potential cooperation partners from the startup and innovation ecosystem.
The Pfizer strategic innovation team will be on site throughout the event and looks forward to personal conversations, especially around the following topics:

• How can digital solutions meaningfully support therapies?
• What role does AI play in early detection, clinical decision support, and patient management?
• How can digital solutions enhance patient engagement and retention?
• How can sustainable process optimization be achieved in development and production?

• When: April 21–23, 2026
• Where: Messe Berlin
• Pfizer booth: Hall 2.2 | Booth C‑115

The Pfizer team looks forward to exchanging perspectives on experiences, use cases, and the potential of new digital technologies – come visit us at hall 2.2 | Booth C‑115!

About smartXhealth

Advancing innovation processes in healthcare, accelerating the translation of innovations into practice, connecting regional stakeholders, and providing new impetus – this is the mission of the smartXhealth innovation platform. The initiative is supported by five partners: BadenCampus, Campus Technologies Freiburg, Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH (FWTM), University of Freiburg, and University Medical Center Freiburg. The smartXhealth connect event series places a strong emphasis on personal exchange and dialogue.

• When: Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• Where: Virtual Identity AG, Freiburg
• Participation: Free of charge; places are limited

Who should attend smartXhealth connect?

• Start-ups in digital health and medtech
• Representatives from hospitals, research, and healthcare delivery
• Companies from the healthcare industry
• Innovation managers and decision-makers
• Anyone interested in actively shaping the healthcare ecosystem

Meet the Hub Team

The complexity of quantum computing, sensing, and communication poses a challenge for individual stakeholders to achieve progress in isolation. Translating quantum research into market‑ready technologies therefore requires close collaboration between academic institutions, technology companies, research laboratories, start‑ups, and public initiatives.

In the context of a process optimization project, Peter Neske, Innovation Lead at the Pfizer Healthcare Hub Freiburg, has established a network in the field of quantum technology. In a short impulse talk, he will share his insights and key learnings, addressing the question of how diverse stakeholders can successfully collaborate to advance quantum innovation.

The session will be followed by time for questions, discussion, and informal exchange.

Automation, robotics, and AI are driving forces for innovation, efficiency, and security in healthcare. As key technologies, they have the potential to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, promising impactful solutions and relief. Experts from industry, research, and medicine will explore the opportunities and challenges these innovative technologies present.

The event takes place once a year at a key location for the health industry in THE LÄND. This year, the TREFFpunkt Health Industry will be held in Stuttgart. The event is organized by BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg, with BioRegio STERN as this year’s regional partner.

• When: March 19, 2026
• Where: Hospitalhof Stuttgart
• Participation is free of charge.

Why you should join

• Be inspired by engaging talks, discussions, and interviews on trends, innovations, and technologies such as AI & robotics in medicine.
• Expand your network, connect with new partners, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
• Discover the health industry in Stuttgart, one of THE LÄND’s key regions.
• Exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and develop new ideas for the future together.
• Meet the hub team: The Pfizer Healthcare Hub Freiburg team will be there and looks forward to an intensive and inspiring exchange.