As a member of the Solut team gearing up for HLTH Europe 2025 in Amsterdam, I’m excited to share a sneak peek of what’s in store. This year’s conference promises a dynamic mix of cutting edge technology, inspiring discussions, and invaluable connections – all through a personal lens as we prepare to attend.
Setting the Stage in Amsterdam
HLTH Europe 2025 – running 16–19 June 2025 at the RAI Amsterdam – is Europe’s largest health innovation event, uniting stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem. Following a hugely successful inaugural conference in 2024, HLTH Europe returns in 2025 with even greater momentum, where “global expertise meets local insight” to tackle Europe’s unique health challenges. With over 5,000 attendees and 350+ speakers expected, the scale of this event is astounding. One in three attendees is at the C-suite level, meaning you’re rubbing shoulders with key decision-makers from hospitals, pharma, tech, startups, investors, and more. The diversity of participants ensures a vibrant exchange of ideas and opportunities for collaboration.
Figure: HLTH Europe brings together stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem – from health systems and startups to pharma, payers, investors, and media – truly “everyone is here” to drive health innovation (logos of some participating organizations shown).
The theme for HLTH Europe 2025 is “growth in all its forms,” reflecting how the industry is evolving and scaling new innovations. Traditional care models are becoming more flexible and interconnected, and HLTH Europe’s agenda cultivates this growth by breaking down silos and sparking collaborations. In fact, the program is organized around eight key topics – from hospital IT transformation and data/AI advances to new care models, health equity, and scaling startups. In short, the conference offers an immersive experience shaping the future of European healthcare, from digital health breakthroughs to policy innovations.
AI in Healthcare Takes Center Stage
One thing is clear: artificial intelligence is taking center stage at HLTH Europe 2025. New for this year, the organizers have introduced a dedicated “AI Spotlight” – a special area on the show floor just for AI in healthcare. This spotlight comes with its own stage, where leading experts will delve into the real-world impact of AI on medicine through case studies, panel discussions, and live demos. As an attendee, I’m eager to park myself here and soak up practical insights into AI’s transformative potential. From what we know, the AI Spotlight will showcase cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of healthcare – think AI-driven diagnostics, predictive analytics, and intelligent patient engagement tools, all demonstrated in action.
The focus on AI isn’t confined to one area either. Throughout the conference agenda, AI and machine learning pop up as recurring themes. In fact, one of the event’s stated priorities is highlighting “the role of AI and machine learning in revolutionizing patient care and diagnostics.” We anticipate sessions exploring how advanced algorithms can improve clinical decision support, streamline hospital operations, and personalize medicine. A track titled “Charting GPT: Mapping the next steps for data and AI” hints at deep dives into generative AI and data strategy in healthcare – a hot topic as hospitals grapple with balancing innovation and ethics in AI. Some speakers and panelists bring notable expertise here: for example, health tech leaders from Roche and academic AI experts are set to discuss federated learning and generative AI’s role in medicine. Hearing these discussions firsthand will be invaluable for understanding where AI in healthcare is headed next.
Navigating New Investment Trends in Digital Health
In parallel with technology, investment trends in digital health will be a major focus at HLTH Europe 2025. After the past few years of both sky-high digital health funding and recent market corrections, everyone is keen to spot the next big opportunities. HLTH Europe isn’t shying away from these conversations – it’s directly addressing them. One of the conference’s key themes is identifying “new investment trends in healthtech and digital medicine.” Attendees can expect candid discussions about the evolving funding landscape: where venture capitalists are placing bets, how healthtech startups can thrive in a tighter market, and what emerging segments (like AI-driven healthcare, mental health apps, or telehealth platforms) are poised for growth.
A highlight I’m looking forward to is a panel on healthcare mergers, acquisitions, and the venture climate. The agenda teases a session titled “M&A: Turning the tide in a turbulent market,” which acknowledges that recent headlines about European health tech funding have been gloomy, yet strikes an optimistic tone. Industry veterans from the investment world – including leaders from Merck’s Global Health Innovation Fund and venture firms like Lakestar – will take the stage to discuss the path forward. The description suggests a “double down” attitude: yes, the waters have been choppy, but there are still success stories to celebrate and more on the horizon. Hearing these experts share how they’re adapting strategies and betting on the next wave of innovation should give us a realistic yet hopeful outlook on health investment in 2025.
Beyond panels, HLTH Europe is actively facilitating connections between startups and investors. As a startup-minded consultancy, this is something we at Solut find especially valuable. The conference features an Investor Connect programme – essentially matchmaking sessions running throughout the day where entrepreneurs and funders can meet one-on-one. There’s also a high-profile Startup Pitch competition on the agenda, where emerging digital health companies will pitch live on stage (and yes, a bit of friendly competition and possibly prizes are involved!). This energy – startups hustling to showcase breakthroughs, VCs hunting for the next big thing – creates a buzz that’s unique to events like HLTH. Even early in the week, dedicated forums like an underrepresented founders and investors breakfast ensure that networking is inclusive and brings fresh voices to the table. For anyone interested in the business side of health innovation, these sessions will be prime time to gauge where the smart money is going and maybe even spark a deal or two.
