After their four-day run as an in-person event, MEDICA and COMPAMED achieved extremely successful results in Düsseldorf, Germany.

From 15 to 18 November 2021, the world’s leading information and communication platforms for the medical technology industry and its supplier sector presented a wealth of convincing innovations as well as accompanying programs that covered a wide range of topics (supplemented by digital offers) and did justice to their internationally prestigious position. 46,000 visitors (with an international share of 73%) from 150 countries seized the opportunity to engage in person with the 3,033 MEDICA and 490 COMPAMED exhibitors in Düsseldorf, obtaining information on the comprehensive range of innovations for outpatient and inpatient care, including every step of their development and manufacture, and trying out many innovative products live in the trade fair halls.

The industry portals MEDICA.de and COMPAMED.de added a range of offers in line with the live events at the trade fairs. This allowed users to access livestreams to watch the stage programs of all expert forums that had been integrated into the trade fairs as well as the 44th German Hospital Conference and the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE; network via the special Matchmaking tool; and obtain information on innovative products in the exhibitors’ online showrooms.

As expected, COVID-19 and the findings gained to date while managing the pandemic with regard to the implementation of new therapeutic approaches and care concepts were recurring themes in many talks at the forums and accompanying conferences. The MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE, for example, took a closer look at how to get back into sports after suffering from long COVID, while the MEDICA ECON FORUM and the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM focused on digitizing processes in the healthcare system.

In line with these themes, exhibitors offered many innovations for the clinical and outpatient field. And the young start-up scene was heavily involved as well, something that was impressively proven during the thrilling pitch competitions held as part of the 10th MEDICA Startup COMPETITION and the 13th Healthcare Innovation World Cup, which took place on the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM program stage. The 13th Healthcare Innovation World Cup focused on innovative devices and smart applications for digital networking and process integration, with an eye to the Internet of Medical Things. From among 300 entries, the jury selected 12 start-ups for the finals on 15 November. Ideas ranged from artificial intelligence (AI) and health apps to robotics at the 10th MEDICA Startup COMPETITION (on 16 November).

Trends along the entire process chain of medical technological manufacture and product developments dominated both the trade fair business of exhibitors and visitors at COMPAMED (which took place in Halls 13 and 14 this time around) and the stage programs of the two integrated expert forums. Innovative substances played just as great a role as innovative, printed electronics, smart sensor solutions and microfluidic options to resolve challenges in point of care diagnostics.

“The atmosphere in the trade fair halls was relaxed and characterised by a sense of optimism throughout; conversations with our customers have shown that in many cases, we have exceeded expectations. People were finally able to establish new and intensify existing contacts in person,” said Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.

“The numbers are encouraging, and were hardly expected to be at this level in spring. With the combination of trade fair events and digital supplements, MEDICA and COMPAMED have given the industry strong stimuli. The exhibitors are happy to have come to Düsseldorf and are already actively inquiring about options to take part next year,” added Christian Grosser, Director Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, thus reflecting the positive signals fed back by participants and trade associations alike. 

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