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 many program updates. While exhibitor registrations for the trade fairs are in full swing, the team for both events is working on the concept and themes of the stage program. MEDICA and COMPAMED will take place from November 17 – 20, 2025 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“Meet Health. Future. People.” – the team is guided by this new MEDICA campaign motto. Because this motto clearly defines what MEDICA stands for in combination with COMPAMED and what characterizes 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 program 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,” summarized Christian Grosser, Director Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf.

One major innovation last year was related to the German Hospital Congress, which is an established MEDICA program element as the leading communication platform for hospital management in German-speaking countries and was held for the first time in the middle of the trade fair (instead of in 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 digitalization of healthcare facilities,” explained Christian Grosser.

Big 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 program 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 part of the program and will 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 will address the “hot topics” of the healthcare industry, which will also be a recurring theme through the entire range of topics and exhibitors at MEDICA 2025. This year, they will 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,” said Dr Claudio Bucchi, Senior Project Manager of MEDICA.

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

2 x 5 spheres = a globally unique combination

However, 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 program and thematically related 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 orthopedic 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 COMPAMED, which always takes place concurrently and has developed into the world's leading platform for the supplier sector of the medical technology industry. With its exhibition and stage program, it impressively highlights the supplier expertise in key technologies and also offers 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 micro components, microfluidics) and IT in Tech (software development and maintenance for medical technology).

Hotel accommodation at attractive rates near the exhibition center

In addition to exciting topics and many innovations, a new service for MEDICA and COMPAMED 2025 exhibitors and visitors will be offered when it comes to accommodations: In cooperation with Kuoni Tumlare Congress, Messe Düsseldorf has created a new online hotel booking platform offering numerous room allotments at attractive prices near the exhibition center. This is Messe Düsseldorf's response to the growing cost pressure exhibitors and visitors are increasingly experiencing. The service with booking options is available at: https://www.medica-tradefair.com/hotel_cityinfos_e.

When last held in 2024, MEDICA and COMPAMED attracted a total of 5,800 exhibiting companies from 72 nations and 80,000 trade visitors from 165 nations.