Dissecting the Future of Medical Devices: Inside the 2025 European Medical Device Summit

The European Medical Device Summit marked a powerful start to the spring summit season in Europe, setting a new benchmark for industry collaboration and innovation. Held on 3–4 June at the Maritime Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany, the event brought together over 120 MedTech leaders for two days of high-impact networking, critical insight-sharing, and dynamic idea exchange.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to making this summit such a standout experience. A special thank you goes to our phenomenal emcees—Connor Hale of Fierce Medtech, Wouter Henderickx of Philips, and Wendel Smith, M.D. of Edwards Lifesciences—for bringing energy, clarity, and connection to every session. Your leadership helped shape the tone and momentum of the event, and it was an absolute pleasure to work with you.

Day 1: Opening Keynote & Plenaries for Accelerating Innovation

Day 1 kicked off with an insightful Opening Keynote from Robert Kossmann, M.D., EVP and Global Head, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Care Enablement at Fresenius Medical Care. His session "AI in Nephrology MedTech Design: Accelerating Innovation, Personalization & Safety in Kidney Care" highlighted leveraging AI for rapid prototyping and testing simulations and automating regulatory reporting and compliance documentation to reduce human error.

Christoph Schmid, Chief R&D Officer at GN Group, followed with a phenomenal plenary focused on rethinking R&D with AI for innovative breakthroughs. His insights fostered a collaborative discussion about integrating AI into R&D processes to enhance product development.

Our morning was wrapped up by Veeva MedTech's own Annemien Pullen, VP, MedTech Strategy, Europe, as well as Norbert Gorny, Chief Scientific Officer at EssilorLuxottica, and Wendel Smith, M.D., SVP, Quality and Product Safety at Edwards Lifesciences. Together, they shared how technology is accelerating access to high-quality medical devices by enabling faster development, streamlining regulatory processes, and optimizing clinical trials.

Following the morning sessions, attendees connected over a networking break and participated in 1:1 meetings with forward-thinking solution providers, fostering a sense of connection and engagement.

Streams and Workshops: Deep Dives with Industry Leaders

With dedicated streams in Product Development, Design & Innovation, and Quality & Regulatory, every attendee found sessions tailored to their expertise and interests.

Rebecca Fahrig, Ph.D., VP of Innovation, Advanced Therapies at Siemens Healthineers, delivered a captivating session on "Innovating Precision Therapy with Robotics." Richard Willmann, Ph.D., VP of R&D, Image-Guided Therapy Systems at Philips, followed with "Optimizing Design, Safety, and Efficiency with Artificial Intelligence," offering a sharp perspective on the future of AI integration. Mizanu Kebede, Chief Quality and Regulatory Officer at Smith+Nephew rounded out the stream sessions with his practical talk, "Navigating EU MDR and Regulatory Challenges for Medical Device Success," covering critical strategies for compliance and recertification.

The afternoon transitioned into hands-on workshops led by Mike Cook, Global Medical Device Sales Executive at The Voluntary Improvement Program; Atul Mahajan, Director of Engineering Services at IZiel Healthcare Inc.; and Derek Grant, Chief Sales Officer at RegDesk—each delivering actionable insights in an interactive format.

Attendees gathered in the exhibit hall for lunch. They had the opportunity to join small-group Lunch & Learn Roundtables hosted by L&T Technology Services, Veeva MedTech, RQM+, and Demix—offering a more intimate setting for in-depth discussions and networking.

Afternoon Spotlights: Fireside Chats and Deeper Insights

After lunch, attendees explored the future of the medical device industry through a thought-provoking panel discussion with leading voices, including John Gaffney, General Manager at Avery Dennison Medical, Jochen Bauer, Ph.D., VP, R&D, Wound Care and Consumer Health at Hartmann Group, George Murgatroyd, VP, Digital Technologies at Medtronic, Christoph Schmotz, VP, R&D, PSS and GSS, Healthcare Systems and Technologies at Baxter, and Marc Secall, VP, Key Technologies at Sonova. Their insights helped shape a shared vision for innovation, digitization, and strategic growth across the sector.

Parallel afternoon workshops provided deeper dives into eco-design and compliance. Somshekhar Umadi of L&T Technology Services focused on extending product life cycles for greater value and sustainability. Jonathan Demierre, Ph.D., of Helbling, highlighted key levers for improving device sustainability, while Andreas Beust of GCP-Service International addressed the upcoming transition from ISO 14155:2020 to 14155:2025 and what it means for clinical operations.

A second networking break offered refreshments and the opportunity for focused 1:1 meetings before returning to the main stage for two impactful sessions. Norbert Gorny, Chief Scientific Officer at EssilorLuxottica, presented "Managing Myopia: A New Global Epidemic," while Frank Moloney, VP of QA/RA, EMEA at Zimmer Biomet, addressed "Understanding How New Regulatory Requirements Will Affect Operations."

Following these exceptional sessions, a high-profile panel discussion brought together leaders from Team Consulting, B. Braun, Intuitive Surgical, Integra LifeSciences, and Siemens Healthineers. Their conversation explored the intersection of innovation, risk management, and quality & regulatory excellence, offering practical strategies for elevating quality in today's evolving landscape.

The final plenary for day 1, "Maximizing Patient Outcomes Through Quantified Benefit-Risk in the Medical Device Sector," was presented by Jijo James, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, MedTech and Interventional Oncology at Johnson & Johnson. Jijo shared how quantified benefit-risk frameworks are shaping the future of medical devices. His session emphasized the importance of these frameworks in advancing patient-centric innovation.

The day concluded with a vibrant Networking Drinks Reception, sponsored by L&T Technology Services, featuring their signature G&T Tonic and lively conversations to cap off an exceptional Day 1.

Day 2: Empowerment, Strategy, and Forward Thinking

Day 2 began with a compelling plenary from Jackie Kunzler, SVP and Global Head of R&D at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies. Her session, "Implementing Secure by Design Principles to Protect Against Cybersecurity Threats in Medical Devices," addressed strategies to mitigate security risks while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Next, Ian Purdy, Ph.D., SVP of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at Intuitive Surgical, led an insightful session on advancing healthcare innovation through robotics and AI. His talk sparked in-depth discussion on how these technologies are transforming surgical precision and diagnostic capabilities.

Attendees then broke into focused morning workshops led by industry experts. Carsten Hurasky of QNX shared strategies for maintaining device security, compliance, and performance while minimizing downtime and recertification challenges. Andreas Rudl of iTAC Software AG presented innovative approaches to MES solutions and paperless production. Meanwhile, Markus Müller of Flinn.AI explored how AI can automate and streamline regulatory and quality management processes.

A final networking break provided another opportunity for attendees to engage with exhibitors, exchange ideas with peers, and reflect on the morning's key takeaways before heading into the afternoon sessions.

Collaborative Learning: Workshops and Meaningful Connections

After the networking break, Fernando Morales Olivera, VP of Ethics & Compliance, EMEA, and LATAM at Becton Dickinson, showcased case studies on the seven hallmarks of an effective Corporate Compliance Program. Meanwhile, Cagatay Guler, VP of EMEA at Solventum, offered insights into innovating in product development.

The highly anticipated Women in Leadership Panel, moderated by Susana De Azevedo Wäsch, Ph.D., VP, Quality Management and Regulatory Affairs at Ypsomed, with influential speakers Rebecca Fahrig, Ph.D., VP, Innovation, Advanced Therapies at Siemens Healthineers, Aileen Barrerto Rivera, VP, Supply Chain Quality, MedTech at Johnson & Johnson, Kathleen Van Vlierberghe, VP, Peripheral Interventions, EMEA at Boston Scientific, and Bettina Möbious, Ph.D., Director, Central Regulatory and Clinical Affairs at Dräger all shared their personal stories and strategies for fostering leadership and equity in the workplace. Their conversation was both empowering and deeply reflective of the broader industry evolution.

Over the last lunch of the summit, more Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions took place, led by experts from Philips, Elekta, Bayer, REGEnLIFE, Olympus, Solventum, Siemens Healthineers, Dräger, and Alcon.

Final Sessions: Best Practices, Strategic Insights, and the Future of Medical Devices

The summit concluded on a high note with a powerful plenary from Dennet Kouri of Edwards Lifesciences. Attendees walked away with practical strategies to strengthen product risk assessments through continuous evaluation, robust documentation, and integration with the CAPA process—reinforcing compliance and patient safety.

The final panel brought together medical device innovators from Permobil, Distalmotion, Bebig Medical, EFM S.A., and SymPhysis Medical. These SMEs shared their real-world challenges and solutions they’re driving forward. Their closing insights left the audience both inspired and motivated to accelerate their own MedTech innovation journeys.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Medical Devices in 2026

As the Chair’s Closing Remarks wrapped up the event, the energy in the room made one thing clear—this summit was more than just another industry gathering. It was a catalyst for new ideas, meaningful partnerships, and bold strategies that will shape the next era of medical device innovation.

If you couldn’t join us this year, you didn’t just miss the keynotes—you missed the conversations that are redefining the path forward.

Join us in 2026 for the European Medical Device Summit. Stay informed and reserve your place: emdsummit.com

Testimonials

“Interesting topics with a lot of real-life examples have given a lot of good insights to bring back home. Good value conference so far.”

Anna-Karin Wahlström, VP, Quality and Regulatory Assurance, Permobil

“Overall, the summit was very beneficial as I was able to meet experts in quality and regulatory affairs.”

Moses Kakanga, Quality Manager, Recornea SRL

“Well coordinated, good speakers and nice, diverse and relevant topics were covered.”

Line Rasmussen, Head of IT Quality Assurance & Compliance, GN Group

“Enjoyed deep talks and the time to meet everyone I planned to meet.”

Arnd Rose, Head of R&D, OD-OS

“Great time getting up to date on what is going on in medical devices, where we stand, and where to go. Overall great organization of the conference!”

Kelsey van Abbema, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Manager, LIMIS Development B.V.

“Super well organized with a lot of very interesting and fruitful discussions with industry leaders”

Sune Darkner, Chief Technology Officer @ Darerl

“Very well organized, great sessions and networking opportunities!”

Rostislav Stoykov, Director @ RQM+

"Very interactive, good discussions, timeline well managed."

Fabian Kappeler, Head of Development @ Helbling Technik

Learn more about our fall 2025 European events and secure your spot today:

• European Biomanufacturing Summit | 22-23 October 2025
• European Supply Chain Summit | 28-29 October 2025
• European Manufacturing Summit | 11-12 November 2025