Health Tech Forward 2025

This is no ordinary tech conference – Health Tech Forward stands apart for its focus on quality content and unmatched networking opportunities.

Prepare yourself for two days of action, featuring targeted 1:1 meetings, empowering keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and interactive fireside chats that delve into technologies revolutionising health and wellness.

Why join?

• Unparalleled networking: Make new partnerships effortlessly by using curated networking opportunities at Health Tech Forward. Book meetings with leaders, innovators, and investors and achieve your goals.
• Remarkable speakers: The event brings together leading health tech entrepreneurs, visionary investors, and key industry players to share candid insights on making a positive impact in health tech.
• Exclusive insights: Health Tech Forward is your main destination for the latest market trends. Peek into the next decade of health and wellness together with the coolest minds in the biz.
• Curated meetings: This is where the health tech crowd gathers for 1:1 meetings with key players in healthcare. Our meetings program powers over 3,000+ focused, high-quality meetings in just two days.
• Startup pitches: Every year, we host an epic pitch battle for early and growth stage startups. Join us to see how 80 rising stars are shaking up the health tech scene with their out-of-the-box solutions.
• Evening activities: Once you’ve filled up on wisdom at the event, it’s time to fill up on fun. Get ready for a mind-blowing experience set against the backdrop of Barcelona’s cityscape.

Biocat, with the support of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council, will lead The BioRegion of Catalonia Pavilion, a key space within the framework of Health Tech Forward aimed at enhancing the visibility and international projection of the most cutting-edge initiatives from the BioRegion of Catalonia.

This pavilion, conceived as a strategic meeting point within the congress, will host 10 Catalan startups from the health and wellness technology sector. These companies will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative proposals, connect with investors and key international stakeholders, and explore new avenues for collaboration and business development.

Catalonia Startup Pitch

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 - 10:00h - 10:50h

A vibrant ecosystem of Catalan companies shaping the future of healthcare through Medtech, Digital Health, and Diagnostics innovations. Remarkably, 40% of these companies are led by women CEOs, reflecting a strong commitment to diversity and leadership in the sector.

What’s the promise of AI agents in healthcare and how will we navigate the integration hurdles?

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 - 10:15h - 10:50h

AI’s role in healthcare is still being formed, and turning its potential into something truly useful isn’t easy. With LLMs becoming more accessible, bringing them into clinical practice takes careful planning and balance. Join our speakers in discussion on the real-world hurdles of integration, data governance, and adoption of AI agents.  

Speakers:

• Andreas Ringman Uggla, Partner. Serendipity Partners
• Christian Lautner, Managing Partner. Heal Capital
• Christophe Dufour, Global Head of Digital Precision Healthcare. AstraZeneca
• María González Manso, CEO & Co-Founder. Tucuvi

Health Data Under Attack: Emerging Vulnerabilities in Healthcare

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 - 12:30h - 13:00h

With digital innovation taking over healthcare, new risks are emerging. It affects all market sectors – from diagnostics to medical devices and health apps we use. That comes down to sensitive patient data moving through increasingly complex systems. 

This panel will examine vulnerabilities in health tech, medtech, and AI. Experts will discuss ransomware, device security gaps, and data misuse. Join in to explore how innovation and security must advance together to protect patients and sustain trust.

Speakers:

• Laura Busquet Raich, Head of Data Protection and Compliance. Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya

Can AI in drug discovery actually shorten the road to real therapeutic breakthroughs?

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 - 14:00h - 14:30h

As TechBio pushes precision medicine forward, let’s take a look at how AI is being used across drug development. From AI-powered target discovery to drug repurposing, biomarker identification, and clinical trial acceleration, we’ll explore how machine learning is reshaping R&D.

Experts will weigh in: is AI delivering on its promise – or are we still chasing the hype?

Speakers:

• Eric Durand, Chief Research & Technology Officer. OWKIN
• Valentina Isetta, Global AI Innovation Lead. AstraZeneca
• Vincent Lepreux, Investment Director. Debiopharm Innovation Fund

Value-based care but make it European: why the models from the US don’t translate

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 - 15:00h - 15:30h

Value-based care may be a global buzzword, but how it's implemented is truly regional. In the US, positive patient outcomes can translate into upside revenue for providers, while Europe, focuses skews toward cost savings and centralized incentives. 

In this session experts will uncover why US models for value-based care don’t work in the European market.

Speakers: 

• Guillem Masferrer, Partner. Asabys
• Iroda Jurabekova, Global Director, Oncology Pricing and Access. Boehringer Ingelheim
• Samantha Jérusalmy, Partner. Elaia
• Ward Bijlsma, Chief Medical Officer. Equipe Zorgbedrijven

Can FemTech finally go mainstream now or will the investment gap keep holding it back?

Thursday, 04/12/2025 - 11:20h - 11:55h

Despite a surge in innovation, investment in women’s health remains disproportionately low. Can FemTech finally break through and go mainstream, or will the investment gap keep holding it back? 

This panel will share behind the scenes of economics behind this market. And most importantly – what do investors need to see before they commit?

Speakers:

• Annie Theriault, Managing Partner. Cross-Border Impact Ventures
• Maxime Huerre, VP Digital Health. Eurazeo
• Patricia Ripoll Ros, Patient Advocate, Health Adviser, Chief Patient Officer. Fundación VISIBLE

Success through the right partnerships: identifying the not so obvious partners and creating the unexpected value

Thursday, 04/12/2025 - 11:55h - 12:30h

Success comes from the right partnerships – but how do you spot them

This panel dives into the art of identifying strategic and sometimes surprising partnerships that competitors may overlook. Learn how thinking outside-the-box can unlock value, accelerate scaling, and boost innovation hubs.

Speakers:

• Delphine Demeestere, Director External Innovation. Lonza
• Hank Capps, EVP, Chief Information Digital Officer / President. Catalyst by Wellstar Health System
• Jorge Juan Fernández García, Chief Innovation Officer. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
• Nina Williams, Associate Director. Mount Sinai Ventures.

Companies from the BioRegion interested in exploring active participation options —such as exhibition, presentations, or sponsorship opportunities— can enjoy a special 20% discount on the available packages.

For more information, please contact sponsors@healthtechforward.com, including the code Biocatpartner in the subject line of the message.