HWL 2026: Focus on cross-border health issues

Created in 2023, Healthcare Week Luxembourg is becoming more international each year. The 2026 edition welcomed more than 3,600 participants, over 130 exhibitors and more than 120 guest speakers. Hospital decision-makers, HR and IT managers, manufacturers, researchers, startups, innovators and institutions came together for this European event, which has become a key meeting point for everyone involved in transforming the healthcare system.

A program designed beyond borders

Across the cross-border region, the challenges are similar: labour shortages, cybersecurity and continuity of care. Patient care can no longer be conceived in silos.

The HWL 2026 programme explored issues relating to sovereignty and governance, as well as artificial intelligence, continuity of care under pressure, crisis coordination and the European Health Data Space.

A key part of the programme focused specifically on the health technology sector. The Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, recalled that over the last five years the Luxembourg healthtech sector has created more than 600 jobs, reaching a total of approximately 2,520 jobs across 131 companies.

These figures come directly from the mapping of companies in the healthtech ecosystem carried out jointly by Luxinnovation’s Market Intelligence team and healthtech sector experts from Luxinnovation and the Ministry of the Economy. The most recently updated data from this mapping could be consulted on the Luxinnovation stand.

"Luxembourg intends to pursue its objective of becoming a leading European hub for the development, evaluation and adoption of digital health technologies on the European market," said Minister Lex Delles.

A booth with 11 innovators

At the heart of the Luxinnovation stand, 11 co-exhibitors representing the national healthtech ecosystem were present to showcase their solutions.

"This stand enabled these healthtech companies to present their solutions to a European audience and to make useful contacts for their development," explains Max Krecké, Project Support Officer for HealthTech and coordinator of the stand. "Our team was also present to facilitate these meetings and guide companies towards available funding. This support is not limited to Healthcare Week: we remain attentive to the country’s healthtech players throughout the year, from the initial idea to development and growth."

Mathias Link, Director of External Affairs & Strategic Partnerships at Exobiosphere (space and pharmaceutical research)

"We are a startup that brings together the worlds of pharma and biotech with the world of space. For us, an event like Healthcare Week is an essential opportunity to get closer to our customers. We also need to work very closely with the research, development and innovation ecosystem in Luxembourg, and in particular with Luxinnovation. We are therefore very happy to be present on this stand, which brings together all these players with different profiles in a very relevant way and makes it easier to connect with each other."

Gontrand Platiau, Marketing Manager at Astel Medica Europe (production of probiotics and postbiotics)

"For a Luxembourg company like ours, it is our duty to be present at such an event. We are fortunate to benefit from Luxinnovation’s support in making contact and setting up partnerships. A stand like this offers us a great opportunity to make ourselves known. This is mainly the goal we are pursuing with Luxinnovation. Our national roots mean that we are very well received by pharmacists. The feedback is really very positive and we can truly say that the medical and health ecosystem in Luxembourg is among the best in the world."

Dr Jean-François Michel, Co-founder & CEO of eSklepios (medical practice management software)

"It is important for us to be present on this stand, as Luxinnovation’s advice has always been valuable: basically, we are doctors, not entrepreneurs. Thanks to this advice, we have avoided certain mistakes. A really strong bond has been forged in recent years, which is essential for us, particularly in a field where we often tend to work in isolation, each fully absorbed in our own activities."

Stéphane Ketelaer, founder and CEO of Telemis (medical imaging solutions)

"It is an exceptional opportunity to be here among all the players in the Luxembourg health ecosystem, and even from the Greater Region, and to show them that we are a Luxembourg company. We can meet local stakeholders from the hospital sector whom we do not see at other international fairs. It also makes much more sense for us to be on a shared stand like Luxinnovation’s rather than having our own separate stand. The agency’s support is very valuable, particularly in building bridges between the political sphere, the research community and the Luxembourg economy."

Dmitrii Pravilov, Marketing Assistant at ExoAtlet (exoskeletons supporting rehabilitation and mobility)

"We really appreciate the opportunity that Luxinnovation gives us to meet many people in Luxembourg and beyond. There are great opportunities here for discovery, collaboration and contact with health professionals, such as physiotherapists or clinicians who are interested in new technologies and want to use them in their daily practice. This is a very promising and beneficial environment when you are a startup."

Arja Roos, CEO of Tuomi (healthcare technologies improving accessibility and connectivity)

"We have been in Luxembourg for 20 years and from the very beginning we have been in contact with Luxinnovation. The agency helped us a great deal by explaining everything we needed to know to establish our business here. We have gained a lot thanks to them but also thanks to the whole ecosystem, which is very supportive. Even today, their advice remains valuable."

Nina Kejzlarova, Project Manager, Clinical Affairs at Arspectra (augmented reality glasses for medical visualisation)

"The most important aspect for us is undoubtedly the potential connections with other healthcare companies and with the whole medical ecosystem. Coming back here every year allows us to reconnect and to see everything that has happened and evolved in the development of other companies. Luxinnovation’s support has been crucial for us, as a key partner in several grant applications, in our preparation for selection processes and for interviews with the various juries we have met."

Luxinnovation's support

Companies and research organisations wishing to develop a health project can contact Luxinnovation’s healthtech experts. They will support them in identifying European and national funding, subject to eligibility.