Events

With more than 1,500 participants, renowned speakers, and an expanded program, the festival highlights the remarkable innovative strength of the region. It is where ideas are transformed into reality, new partnerships take shape, and the future becomes tangible. The Käpsele Innovation Festival brings together people who are passionate about exploring, discussing, and advancing innovation  to create meaningful connections and to turn visionary concepts into measurable impact.

• When: Thursday, 16 July 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Where: SICK Arena, Messe Freiburg

What to expect

• Five stages featuring practical insights into AI, quantum technology, MedTech, robotics, GreenTech, digital sovereignty, and the future of work
• More than 90 speakers, 40+ panel discussions, and 25+ masterclasses
• Over 20 interactive experience stations and 4,000 m² of networking space
• Two additional days of in-depth masterclasses (16–17 July)
• Leading speakers including Joe Kaeser, Aya Jaff, Robin Rombach, and Birte Hackenjos

Pfizer brings an immersive VR Experience to Käpsele

This year, Pfizer will showcase a virtual reality simulation that forms part of an interactive training program used in hospitals across Germany to help healthcare professionals improve the early recognition of sepsis. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to experience a live excerpt of the simulation and step into the role of a physician. Participants will be challenged to identify key clinical clues and answer a series of questions to detect the early warning signs of a potential sepsis case.

Stop by our VR experience station to discover how immersive technologies are transforming professional medical education and training. We look forward to engaging conversations, fresh perspectives, and meeting fellow innovators throughout the day. 

About smartXhealth

With smartXhealth, five partners pursue a shared mission: to accelerate innovation processes in healthcare, connect relevant stakeholders, and translate new ideas into practice. The initiative is jointly driven by BadenCampus, Campus Technologies Freiburg, Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH (FWTM), the University of Freiburg, and University Medical Center Freiburg.
The smartXhealth connect event series provides a low‑threshold setting to bring together different perspectives, foster mutual learning, and build new connections. Its focus is on personal exchange around current challenges, new collaboration ideas, and future visions for an innovative healthcare system.

• When: Monday, May 11, 2026, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• Where: Historisches Kaufhaus Freiburg
• Participation is free of charge; places are limited.

In addition to networking, short content impulses will set the tone for discussion: M&M Software and myoncare will share brief insights into their digital platform solutions and demonstrate how technological approaches can create tangible value in healthcare delivery. These inputs are intended as conversation starters rather than traditional presentations. The evening will be accompanied by finger food and drinks.

Who should attend?

smartXhealth is aimed at everyone who wants to actively shape the regional healthcare ecosystem, including start‑ups, established companies, hospitals, research institutions, innovation managers, and decision‑makers. As an active contributor to the local healthcare ecosystem, Peter Neske will be on site and looks forward to gaining new insights and engaging in lively exchange with both familiar and new ecosystem stakeholders.

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.