MEDICA and COMPAMED, the leading international information and communication platforms for the entire value chain of the medical technology industry and its suppliers, are starting the new trade fair year with numerous programme updates. While exhibitor registrations for the trade fair dates (17–20 November 2025 in Düsseldorf) are in full swing, the trade fair team for both events is working on the concept and thematic orientation of the stage programme.

‘Meet Health. Future. People.’ – the team is guided by this new MEDICA campaign motto. This is because the motto clearly defines what MEDICA stands for in combination with COMPAMED and what distinguishes it. ’This is where renowned personalities and trade visitors from all areas of the healthcare industry come together and make valuable contacts from all over the world. We offer them a comprehensive programme with information and discussions on the most important trend topics in the industry. The entire spectrum of innovations for future-oriented medical care can be experienced live in one place – including technically sophisticated supplier products,’ summarises Christian Grosser, Director Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf.

One major innovation last year concerned the German Hospital Congress, which is established as the leading communication platform for the management of hospitals in German-speaking countries and was held for the first time in the middle of the trade fair (instead of at the Congress Center as before). “We will continue this format this year, as it generated strong business impulses. Delegates of the German Hospital Day had direct access to exhibiting companies showcasing innovations for hospital equipment and digitalisation of healthcare facilities,” explains Christian Grosser.

A grand stage for healthcare innovations and the start-up scene

The MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM, which was relaunched in 2024, will be expanded this year to include the topics of the previous MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM, making it the central location and programme format for the complete range of tech, digital and IT innovations in the MEDICA Digital Health sphere. The two popular pitch competitions for start-ups and scale-ups, the MEDICA START-UP COMPETITION and the `HEALTHCARE INNOVATION WORLD CUP´, will remain in the programme and will continue to showcase creative product solutions from the young start-up scene on the forum stage. As a result of the strong visitor response, the forum area will be expanded.

The MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM addresses the ‘hot topics’ of the healthcare industry, which will also be a recurring theme throughout the entire range of topics and exhibitors at MEDICA 2025. This year, for example, these include: AI/generative AI, robotics and assistive systems and solutions for networked care/ telemedicine, as well as for the hospital of the future.

‘With a diverse mix of keynotes, pitches, networking formats, panel discussions and contributions from 130 renowned speakers, the forum creates a space for visionary ideas and practical best practices. As a driver of progress, it has already fostered many groundbreaking innovations, strategic partnerships and successful start-ups,’ says Dr Claudio Bucchi, Senior Project Manager at MEDICA, describing the programme concept.

As an expert in start-ups, Dr Bucchi also organises the MEDICA START-UP PARK, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM (also in the Digital Health Sphere) and offers excellent opportunities to get to know many other health innovators and their product innovations.

2 x 5 spheres = a globally unique combination

But not only in the Digital Health Sphere, but in all five spheres at MEDICA 2025, there will be innovations for the entire treatment process in outpatient and clinical care, a varied stage programme and thematically appropriate special shows. The spheres are: laboratory technology and diagnostics (with MEDICA LABMED FORUM), medical technology and electrical medicine (with MEDICA TECH FORUM), medical supplies and consumables, physiotherapy and orthopaedic technology (with the MEDICA SPORTS HUB) as well as digital health/IT solutions (including the Wearable Technologies Show).

This comprehensive range of topics and products at MEDICA is unique worldwide in combination with the COMPAMED, which always takes place at the same time and has developed into the world's leading platform for the supplier sector of the medical technology industry. With its exhibition and stage programme, it impressively conveys the supplier expertise in key technologies and with also five spheres: Manufacturing & Devices (including components, parts, manufacturing processes), Services & Advice (e.g. research, development, services), Materials (including plastics, glass, ceramics, metals, composite materials, adhesives, packaging), Micro Tech (such as microcomponents, microfluidics) and IT in Tech (software development and maintenance for medical technology).

Hotel accommodation at attractive rates near the exhibition centre

In addition to exciting topics and many innovations, a new service is also likely to be well received by exhibitors and the international trade audience at MEDICA 2025 and COMPAMED 2025: In cooperation with Kuoni Tumlare Congress, Messe Düsseldorf has created a new hotel booking platform offering numerous room allotments at attractive prices near the exhibition centre. This is Messe Düsseldorf's response to the growing cost pressure to which exhibitors and visitors are increasingly exposed. The service with booking options is available online at: https://www.medica-tradefair.com/hotel_cityinfos_e.

In November 2024, MEDICA and COMPAMED attracted a total of 5,800 company participations from 72 nations. The 80,000 trade visitors came from 165 countries.

Save the Date: MEDICA 2025 and COMPAMED 2025 will take place at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre from 17 to 20 November.

All information on the main topics and programme highlights of both events is available online at the industry portals https://www.medica-tradefair.com and https://www.compamed-tradefair.com.