“Connecting the people driving real change in digital health”

Medical Valley EMN e. V., a leading medical technology research cluster, and EIT Health, Europe’s largest life science collaboration organisation, are co-organising the European Digital Healthtech Conference 2025 alongside Luxinnovation.

We spoke to Hayley Every, Deputy Director of EIT Health Belgium-Netherlands, and Medical Valley’s Managing Director Marco Wendel about key issues in digital health and how they will be addressed during the conference.

What are the most important issues for companies and research organisations working with digital health right now?

Hayley Every: Digital health is evolving rapidly, bringing exciting opportunities – but also increasing market saturation. For companies and research organisations, understanding the landscape is crucial. Before developing a solution, it is useful to engage with patients, healthcare professionals, and key opinion leaders to ensure that a genuine unmet need is being addressed. I recommend research existing tools to identify gaps rather than duplicating efforts. Some preliminary work can prevent costly missteps and increase the chances of meaningful impact.

Digital health is evolving rapidly, bringing exciting opportunities – but also increasing market saturation. For companies and research organisations, understanding the landscape is crucial.
Hayley Every, EIT Health

Marco Wendel: Those involved in the field face a myriad of challenges and opportunities. One of the foremost issues is regulatory compliance and data privacy. Navigating complex and constantly evolving frameworks – such as GDPR, the Medical Device Regulation or the AI Act – requires organisations to not only protect sensitive health information with robust cybersecurity measures but also to address ethical considerations related to AI-driven decision-making in healthcare.

Another critical challenge is interoperability and data integration. Many healthcare systems continue to operate in silos, making it difficult to achieve seamless integration between electronic health records, wearable devices, and emerging digital health solutions. Embracing standardisation initiatives is essential for ensuring efficient data exchange and enhancing overall system performance.

The promise of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare is immense, yet these technologies demand transparency, explainability and rigorous validation. Establishing trust among regulators, healthcare professionals and patients is key, as is mitigating the risks of biased outcomes in AI-driven diagnostics and treatment recommendations.

Digital health solutions must be intuitive and user-friendly for both clinicians and patients, thereby minimising workflow disruptions.
Marco Wendel, Medical Valley

Additionally, securing funding and ensuring business sustainability remain significant hurdles, especially for startups and research projects challenged by lengthy regulatory pathways. Demonstrating clinical efficacy and a clear return on investment is critical to attracting funding and achieving reimbursement from health systems and insurers.

User adoption and experience are also vital components. Digital health solutions must be intuitive and user-friendly for both clinicians and patients, thereby minimising workflow disruptions. This is closely linked to the need for effective training and education on new digital tools – a bottleneck that can slow down the adoption process. Moreover, the shift from reactive to preventive healthcare through personalised medicine and digital therapeutics necessitates a balance between customisation and adherence to regulatory and ethical standards.

Finally, ensuring that digital innovations are accessible to underserved populations is imperative, as it helps bridge the digital divide and promotes health equity.

Why do you encourage the companies you work with to attend the European Digital Healthtech Conference?

Marco Wendel: The conference offers significant benefits for the healthcare companies we have been working with, including members of Medical Valley. It provides essential insights into evolving regulations, such as the changes in the European Health Data Space, enabling companies to adjust their strategies proactively. It also showcases the latest advancements in AI and personalised medicine.

The event brings together the right people to drive real change in digital health.
Hayley Every, EIT Health

Hayley Every: The event brings together the right people to drive real change in digital health. This year, we’ll explore how the European Health Data Space is shaping the future of healthcare – unlocking new opportunities for innovation, collaboration and impact. For young companies, it’s a unique chance to connect with peers and industry experts, exchange ideas and gain insights on taking digital health to the next level.

Marco Wendel: In addition, the conference facilitates targeted networking with industry experts, technology providers and policymakers, fostering valuable partnerships and collaborative projects. It also enhances brand visibility and thought leadership through panel discussions and presentations, while its commitment to sustainability aligns with responsible business practices.

What topics do you find the most interesting, and why?

Marco Wendel: Since Medical Valley provides support along the entire value chain, all the addressed topics are highly relevant to me.

Hayley Every: Digital tools are unlocking greater access to data and insights, leading to more efficient and effective healthcare. They also empower patients to take a more active role in their health journey. From my point of view, as adoption grows, it will be fascinating to see how these innovations shape the patient-doctor dynamic and transform the way healthcare is delivered.