The 5th edition of Health Tech Forward returns to Barcelona on December 3–4, 2025, bringing together over 1000 leaders and 150+ speakers to examine the technologies, evidence models, and partnerships shaping global healthcare. This year’s program focuses on practical innovation: what works, what scales, and what defines the next wave of health tech trends. In this post, we’ll break down topics, sessions, and platforms worth your attention.
Agenda Overview: What Stands Out in 2025
Health Tech Forward 2025 covers a broad scope, but the agenda is structured around several priority areas that reflect where the industry is moving.
1. AI in Clinical Practice
A closer look at narrow AI applications that are already producing measurable impact in radiology, oncology, and pharmacy. Discussions focus on deployment, performance validation, and real-world integration — not theoretical potential.
2. Ethics, Regulation & Governance
Sessions examine algorithmic bias, model transparency, and the evolving regulatory frameworks guiding safe AI use across Europe and beyond.
3. Cybersecurity & Cross-Border Compliance
A deep dive into standards for patient data protection, secure infrastructure, and system-wide risk management.
4. TechBio & Precision Medicine
How genomics, synthetic biology, and data-driven R&D are redefining therapeutic development and individualized care pathways.
5. Value-Based Care Models
Evidence-driven reimbursement and performance-based partnerships — with case studies linking innovation to measurable clinical outcomes.
Additional tracks address FemTech, climate-resilient healthcare, digital workforce development, consumer health, and lifestyle medicine.
Who Is Shaping the Program
The 2025 agenda is developed with input from a multidisciplinary advisory board representing healthcare, pharma, digital innovation, investment, and patient advocacy.
Key advisors include leaders from Allianz Partners, Novartis, Bayer, Generali, Galen Growth, CUF, Elaia Partners, and others — ensuring the program reflects the operational, regulatory, and strategic realities of modern healthcare.
Networking Platforms: Designed for Meaningful Outcomes
Health Tech Forward continues to invest in structured, high-value networking formats that enable deals, pilots, and partnerships.
Tech Meets Capital
Investor–startup matchmaking connecting VCs such as BlackRock, ARCHIMED, Heal Capital, and Redalpine with high-growth health tech companies.
Registration to Tech Meets Capital program is open until 16th of November, 2026.
Tech Meets Industry
A collaboration forum linking healthcare providers, pharma, and digital innovators, supported by Invest Cyprus and Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya.
Fem-Tech Spain launch
The FemTech Spain Launch (December 3, 16:30–18:30 CET) will bring together founders, investors, and ecosystem partners for an overview of the latest developments in women’s health innovation. The session will introduce FemTech Spain’s mission, present the updated FemTech Spain Market Map v2 (developed with Co-Salud and Digital Health Connector), and feature two focused conversations exploring both startup and investor perspectives.
Participants include representatives from Domma, Innitius, Hologic, Fund F, Exceptional Ventures, and Nina Capital. The event will also offer time for informal networking among attendees working across women’s health technology and research. Registration is available here.
Partner-Led Side events and Sessions You Shouldn’t Miss
The 5th edition of Health Tech Forward will feature an expanded set of partner-led side events, designed to give attendees practical insights, hands-on learning, and access to exclusive networking formats. These sessions run alongside the main agenda some of them require pre-registration due to limited capacity.
Pre-event – December 2, Monday
Visit to the Sant Pau Campus Salut Barcelona
Held on December 2, 11:30–12:15 CET, this visit offers an inside look at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and its role in advancing digital health and translational innovation. Participants will hear from the hospital’s Innovation and Transformation Office and the Digital Health Validation Center, followed by a short Q&A. Due to limited capacity, attendance requires prior approval; you can register here.
Visit to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Scheduled for December 2, 14:00–15:00 CET, this visit provides a guided overview of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) and its work in high-performance computing, AI research, and computational sciences. The session includes a briefing on BSC’s innovation strategy and a tour of selected facilities. Participation is limited and requires approval; you can register here.
Day 1 activities – December 3, Tuesday
Workshop: Cracking the U.S. Market Code
Scheduled for December 3, 10:00–11:00 AM in Room 4, this workshop offers a practical breakdown of how Medicare evaluates new technologies — a central challenge for companies entering the U.S. market. The session covers coding and payment pathways, National Coverage Determinations (NCDs), and real-world examples from digital health, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
Participants will also work through small-group exercises to map out evidence needs and early stakeholder strategies. No separate registration is required for this session.
Session: Sharing Without Sharing – The TRUMPET Federated Approach
Taking place on December 3, 14:30–15:30 CET in Room 4, this session explores how federated learning enables collaborative AI development in healthcare without transferring sensitive data. The discussion will outline GDPR-aligned principles such as data minimisation and confidentiality, and highlight how the EU-funded TRUMPET initiative is addressing the technical and regulatory challenges of privacy-preserving computation. No separate registration is required for this session.
Fundraising Masterclass – Hosted by Capital Cell
A practical online workshop for early-stage and growth-stage startups on structuring rounds, meeting investor expectations, and navigating today’s funding environment. Actionable insights from one of Europe’s leading health tech crowdfunding players. Registration is available here.
Morning Networking Run & HIIT Session — Hosted by Exceptional Ventures
The 5K Sightseeing Run, hosted by Exceptional Ventures, will take place on both December 3 and 4, 7:15–8:00 AM near the conference venue. Led by Michella Botto Andrade and Katharina Soell, the run offers an easy-paced, social start to the day for participants who want to explore Barcelona before sessions begin. An optional short HIIT session will follow for those interested. Details and the meeting point are shared with approved participants; registration is available through the event page.
Health Tech Challengers 2025: 80 Startups, 8 Tracks
The annual startup competition returns with 80 finalists across eight categories, including:
– AI-Supported Healthcare
– Disruptive Diagnostics
– Chronic Disease Management
– Women’s Health
– Consumer Tech & Wellness
Startups pitch live before a global jury of investors and operators, competing for the title of the ultimate winner of the competition.
Exhibition Zone: Technologies Ready for Deployment
The expo brings together organizations developing real-world health technologies, from early-stage innovators to enterprise-scale suppliers.
Among confirmed exhibitors:
Tandem Health, Werfen, Able Human Motion, Kardi AI, Prosoma Digital Healthcare, MiMARK Diagnostics, and others.
Startup pavilions will highlight solutions in key thematic areas such as AI-supported care, diagnostics, chronic disease management, and FemTech.
Who’s Attending in 2025
Participants represent healthcare, pharma, insurance, digital health, and deep tech — including Siemens Healthineers, Philips Healthcare, IBM, AWS, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novo Nordisk, Qure.ai, LynxCare, and Healthy.io.
The conference continues to position itself as a meeting point where healthcare innovation meets implementation at scale.
Q&A: Health Tech Forward 2025
Q1. What are the top health tech trends featured at Health Tech Forward 2025?
Key trends include AI deployment in clinical practice, precision medicine, TechBio, cybersecurity, and value-based care models. Sustainability and FemTech also play a stronger role in the 2025 agenda.
Q2. Where I can buy a ticket to Health Tech Forward 2025?
Tickets for Health Tech Forward 2025 can be purchased directly on the official website. Don’t miss the chance to secure your pass for this year’s edition.
Q3. Who should attend Health Tech Forward 2025?
The event is designed for startups, investors, healthcare providers, payers, regulators, pharma, and technology companies focused on scaling digital health and MedTech innovation.
Q4. How does Health Tech Challengers fit into the program?
Health Tech Challengers is the flagship startup competition featuring 80 companies pitching across 8 tracks. It runs during the main summit and highlights the latest innovations in digital health.
Q5. Where can I find the full agenda?
The complete agenda, speaker lineup, and registration details are available here.
