Where Innovation meets Integration in Medicine

Europe’s most impactful Congress for emerging digital Technologies in Medicine

Step into a space where healthcare meets transformation. Shift Medical 2026 brings together global pioneers to challenge the status quo and build a responsible, data-secure, and human-centered medical future – with cutting-edge tech, real evidence, and ethical clarity at its core.

Speakers

Our speaker lineup features trailblazers from healthcare, law, policy, and innovation, including a broad variety of experts from all over the world.

Program

Since 2019 our Congress unites global medical specialists to critically discuss the development and clinical integration of emerging technologies.

BDC-Heidelberg
Venue

Our congress takes place at the state-of-the-art BDC Heidelberg – a venue that blends top-tier infrastructure with an inspiring setting for collaboration and ideas.

Day
Hour
Minute
Second
Day
Hour
Minute
Second

Congress Topics

Exploring the Core Dimensions of Medical Innovation

Shift Medical provides a focused, evidence-driven look at the most relevant topics in medical technology. Designed to bridge research, clinical practice, and regulatory frameworks, our five program pillars tackle the core challenges and opportunities of digital healthcare evolution.

Meet the Speakers

Shaping the Future of Medicine, together: Our speaker lineup features trailblazers from healthcare, law, policy, and innovation, including a broad variety of experts from all over the world, who are committed to designing secure, sovereign and ethical data ecosystems – ensuring that personal, sensitive and patient data remain protected, autonomous, and under full individual control at all times. Their mission: to prevent misuse and enable trust in a data-driven healthcare future.

dr-louisa-specht-riemenschneider.jpg

Prof. Dr. Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider
Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information

frank-karlitschek.jpg

Frank Karlitschek
Chief Executive Officer / Founder
Nextcloud GmbH

stephen-gilbert.jpg

Prof. Stephen Gilbert
Professor of Medical Device Regulatory Science
EKFZ Digital Health

norwin-kandera.jpg

Norwin Kandera
Chief Executive Officer / Founder
onliveline.nxt GmbH

lars-riedemann.jpg

Dr. med. Lars Riedemann
Specialist in Neurology
University Hospital Heidelberg

dennis-steininger-1.jpg

Prof. Dr. Dennis Steininger
Professor and Chair of Entrepreneurship
RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau

andre-domin.jpg

Dr. André H. R. Domin
Chief Executive Officer
Heidelberg Technology Park

thomas-prexl.jpg

Thomas Prexl
Head of Innovation
Heidelberg Technology Park

hans-steege.jpg

Dr. iur. Dr. rer. pol. Hans Steege
Institute of Economics and Law
University of Stuttgart

lars-cornels.jpg

Lars C. Cornels
Lawyer
Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

gerard-pelka.jpg

Gerard Pelka
Head of Technology
Good Spaces GmbH

grant-nelson.jpg

Dr. Grant Nelson
Board-certified Emergency Physician
Desert Regional Medical Center

janek-bevendorff.jpg

Janek Bevendorff, M.Sc.
Research Assistant
Leipzig University & Maintainer KeePassXC

rebecca-mathias.jpg

Rebecca Mathias, M.Sc.
PhD Student
EKFZ Digital Health

Participating since 2019

We proudly present the Institutions and Companies of previous Congress Participants

Target Groups

Built with you in mind

Shift Medical is designed for all who are committed to shaping the future of healthcare through emerging digital technologies. If you’re working to improve patient outcomes through thoughtful and ethical innovation, this congress was built for you.

01

Clinicians & Medical Practitioners

Driving clinically relevant, user-centered innovation in everyday practice.

02

Researchers & Scientists

Exploring new models of diagnostics, therapy, and human-technology interaction.

03

Healthcare Executives & Strategists

Shaping scalable, cost-effective pathways for digital transformation.

04

Digital Health Startups & Innovators

Showcasing breakthrough ideas and building strong industry connections.

05

Policy Makers & Regulators

Navigating ethical, legal, and financial frameworks for digital health adoption.

06

Educators & Training Experts

Equipping the next generation of medical professionals for a digital future.

History

Iconic Moments in Shift Medical History

In July 2016, we established the first social media-based group, bringing together enthusiasts and experts with a shared goal of advancing healthcare through immersive technologies. What began as an online community has evolved over the years into a multidisciplinary platform, fostering a common language between fields and professionalizing the development of AR and VR technologies for medicine and healthcare.
In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed and hosted the world’s first Medical Congress, convening IT specialists, healthcare professionals, and government representatives within a fully immersive and interactive virtual environment. The internationally acclaimed congress provided empirical evidence on the capacity of emerging technologies, to enhance scientific communication across distances, when properly implemented.
In 2022, the established Shift Medical Congress transitioned to an in-person event in Heidelberg, Germany, highlighting the distinct advantages of face-to-face interactions for in-depth discussions and firsthand experiences with emerging technologies. This live format facilitated the initiation of several international collaborations between established medical device companies, universities, and startups.
In 2023, we launched a boutique consultancy for medical device companies and startups to evaluate meaningful clinical use and market potential focusing of emerging technologies, e.g. AI and Spatial Computing. Drawing on our roots, we also developed an educational curriculum designed to equip the next generation of medical and IT professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement emerging technologies into clinical practice.
Statements

“A truly multidimensional experience.”

Karthik Patanjali, The New York Times

Statements

“This is the most interactive way of holding a congress I’ ve seen so far.”

Jürgen Klöckner, Handelsblatt

Statements

“An exciting example of the power of VR to truly bring people together.”

Christopher Patnoe, Google

Statements

“This is what I call walking the talk at Shift Medical.”

Razvan Ionasec, Amazon Web Services

Get the news

Register for the Shift Medical newsletter and never miss an update on speakers, program highlights, ticket deadlines, and exclusive opportunities to connect with congress attendees.