Press release

MEDICA and COMPAMED: Medical technology business is profitingfrom strong appeal to international visitors

High proportion of decision-makers, unique variety of innovations
and a high-calibre accompanying programme

After four days of business, MEDICA and COMPAMED in Düsseldorf
delivered impressive confirmation that they are excellent platforms for theworldwide medical technology business and the top-level exchange ofexpert knowledge. “Contributing factors were the strong appeal tointernational visitors, the high proportion of decision-makers, the highcalibre accompanying programme and the unique variety of innovations
along the entire added value chain”, summarised Erhard Wienkamp,
Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, looking back at business in thehalls of the internationally leading medical trade fair and the flagship eventfor suppliers in the medical technology industry. From 13 to 16 November,the 5,372 exhibiting companies at MEDICA 2023 and their 735
counterparts at COMPAMED 2023 offered a total of 83,000 healthcare
professionals (up from 81,000 in 2022) impressive proof that they know
how to realise modern health care in doctors’ offices as well as clinics –from the supply of high-tech components to high-performance consumer
products.
“About three quarters of our visitors travelled to Germany from abroad.
They came from 166 countries. Both events are therefore not only leading
trade fairs in Germany and Europe, the figures also demonstrate theirgreat importance for global business”, said Christian Grosser, Director
Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf. More than
80 percent are significantly involved in important business decisions intheir companies and institutions.
The “push” by MEDICA and COMPAMED for cooperation andinternational business is of significant importance for the industry. This isemphasised by current reports and statements from industry associations.
Even if the medical technology market in Germany remains theunchallenged number one with a volume of approximately € 36 billion, theSeite 1 von 4export quota of the German medical technology industry is assessed atjust under 70 percent. “MEDICA is a good marketplace for the strongly
export-oriented German medical technological industry to present itself toits (potential) customers from all over the world. It attracts many
international visitors and exhibitors”, said Marcus Kuhlmann, Head ofMedical Technology at the German Industry Association for Optics,Photonics, Analytical and Medical Technologies (SPECTARIS).
Innovations for better health – digital and powered by AI

Whether at the expert trade fair, conference or professional forums, themain focus this year was on the digital transformation of the healthcare
system in the context of the growing “outpatientisation” of treatment andnetworking among clinics. Another trend is solutions based on Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and supporting systems, for example robotic systems orsolutions for implementing processes that are more sustainable. The
innovations presented by exhibitors included an AI-controlled wearable toimprove sleep quality (by stimulating the brain through precise
neurofeedback signals), an energy-saving yet effective cryotherapy
procedure as well as robotic systems for diagnostics, therapy andrehabilitation–fromrobot-aided

sonographic

examinations

andcardiovascular surgery without physical contact of the instruments as theynavigate through blood vessels to the upper body mobilisation of bedridden patients.
Top speakers “spiced up” specialist topics and provided orientation

The highlights of each MEDICA, in addition to the numerous innovations,traditionally also include the multi-faceted accompanying programme withcelebrity visits and presentations. Federal Minister of Health Karl
Lauterbach participated (by video call) in the opening ceremony of theaccompanying 46th German Hospital Day and in the discussions
concerning the major hospital reform in Germany and the significant
changes this will bring to the structure of available healthcare.
The “hot topic” of artificial intelligence was discussed in numerous
sessions and from a variety of different perspectives in the conferences
and panel talks that accompanied the professional trade fair. Globally
Seite 2 von 4renowned AI experts, among them Bart de Witte, Prof. Paul Lukowicz
and Prof. Dr Aldo Faisal provided the necessary scientific background.
The issues were both very specific, for example how ‘ChatGPT’ could
provide medical use (for example by “translating” complicated phrases inletters by doctors into a commonly understood language), and of a moregeneral nature. Bart de Witte, as a specialist for digital transformation in
healthcare, addressed, among other things, the “greater whole” in his
keynote speech at the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM. He currently sees
the use of AI in healthcare as having arrived at a very critical junction andadvocates for a “democratisation” of medical AI. The storage of medical
knowledge in digital form should not be the exclusive domain of a few
technological giants. Instead, it should be made available for publicaccess. If not, the potential for using medical AI would also be verylimited.
Digital innovations – start-ups are causing a significant stir

The programme on stage at MEDICA had many further highlights to offer.
Among these were the finals of the 12th MEDICA START-UPCOMPETITION (on 14 November). In the annual competition foroutstanding digital innovations, this year’s winner in the final pitch was thestart-up Me Med from Israel with an immunoassay platform for performing
highly sensitive, fast, multiplex protein assessments. In the meantime, adeveloper team from Germany took first place at the finals of the 15th
‘Healthcare Innovation World Cup’: Diamontech introduced a patented,
easy-to-use tool for non-invasive, painless measurement of blood sugarlevels.

COMPAMED: Key technologies for the medicine of the future

For anyone interested in seeing the performance capabilities of suppliersin the medical technology industry, Halls 8a and 8b were a must-see.
Here, during COMPAMED 2023, about 730 exhibiting companies from 39
countries presented an array of innovations that demonstrated their
specialised competence regarding key technologies and their use in
medical technology, in medical products and in medical technology
manufacturing. The breadth of topics in the five worlds of experience
ranged from micro components (e.g. sensors) and microfluidics (e.g.
Seite 3 von 4technologies for managing liquids in the smallest spaces, for use in test
applications within laboratory medicine) to materials (e.g., ceramics,glass, plastics, composite materials) to sophisticated packaging solutions
for cleanrooms.

Two expert panels integrated into COMPAMED offered a deeper look atcurrent trends in technology, both regarding research as well as
development of the procedures and novel products on exhibition. Further,
there was a lot of practical information on relevant foreign markets for
medical technology and on regulation requirements to be met in order toachieve marketing authorisation.
“I am happy to see that there was again a strong focus on international
cooperation this year at COMPAMED. Especially in times of global crises,
I think this is very important indeed. The exhibitors at our joint booth, too,are happy about the high international proportion of visitors and very
happy with the quality of these contacts”, said Dr Thomas Dietrich,
Executive Director of the IVAM International Microtechnology BusinessNetwork, in his positive summary of the trade fair.

All information regarding live events at the trade fair (including many
voices by exhibiting companies and visiting professionals) are available
online at: https://www.medica-tradefair.com and https://www.compamedtradefair.com.

Date of the next MEDICA in Düsseldorf: 11 –14 November 2024
Date of the next COMPAMED in Düsseldorf: 11 –14 November 2024

The dates for the next international medical trade fairs of the Messe
Düsseldorf

Groupareavailable

onlineat:https://www.medicalliance.global.
Messe Düsseldorf GmbHMEDICA + COMPAMED 2023 Press and Public Relations Team
Martin Koch/Maria-Sophie Schulte
Phone: +49(0)211-45 60-444/-589
E-mail: KochM[at]messe-duesseldorf.deSeite 4 von 4