Health Tech Forward 2024 Showcases Innovations in Digital Healthcare
Barcelona, Friday, 6 December 2024.
The event in Barcelona highlighted advancements in AI, precision medicine, and data-driven health, with over 1,000 experts discussing transformative healthcare technologies and strategic partnerships.
Record Attendance and Strategic Discussions
The two-day conference attracted an impressive gathering of over 1,000 healthcare professionals, featuring 122 speakers and 100+ exhibitors across 56 sessions [1]. The event facilitated more than 3,600 meetings between stakeholders, creating a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration and innovation [1]. Robert Fabregat Fuentes, CEO at Biocat, emphasized the strategic importance of hosting this flagship conference in Barcelona, highlighting Catalonia’s prominent position in Life Sciences and Healthcare [1].
Breakthrough Technologies and Market Impact
A significant highlight of the conference was the presentation by Leo Grünstein, Founder & CEO of Liom, who unveiled the world’s first accurate non-invasive glucose measurements on the wrist [1][3]. This innovation targets a substantial market opportunity, addressing both the continuous glucose monitoring market and the health wearables sector [3]. The startup’s potential is further validated by their successful securing of over USD 25 million in Series A funding [3].
Startup Innovation and Competition
The conference featured a competitive startup pitch battle, where Oxford Cancer Analytics emerged victorious [1]. AICURA medical, selected as a finalist in the Health Tech Challengers competition, showcased their AI-powered platform for clinical research in neurodegenerative disorders [5]. The event spotlighted various innovative startups including Methinks AI, Kriba, and Pharmacelera, demonstrating the diverse range of technological solutions being developed in the healthcare sector [1].
Future Outlook and Industry Collaboration
The success of Health Tech Forward 2024 has already led to plans for next year’s event, scheduled for December 3-4, 2025, in Barcelona [1]. As highlighted by Guido Mathews from Bayer, the conference emphasized that ‘Building the future of healthcare requires teamwork’ [3]. The event particularly focused on crucial areas including health innovation challenges, artificial intelligence applications, precision medicine, and data-driven population health approaches [1].