After successful editions in Munich, health.tech is entering its next bold phase in 2026 – as a joint project by MCH Group and Bits & Pretzels.
At its core lies a European innovation ecosystem that not only brings together the leading minds of the industry but also develops concrete solutions for the healthcare of tomorrow.
We at the Messe and Congress Center Basel, part of MCH Group, are excited to host this forward-looking format at our venue in Basel.
In conversation with Tom Hill, Managing Director of health.tech, we talk about the vision behind the platform, Basel’s role as a hub in the European life sciences sector, and the question of how an event can grow into a true movement.
How would you describe health.tech | global summit 2026 in just a few words? What makes it stand out from other events in this sector?
Health.tech is where technology takes center stage in shaping the future of healthcare. It brings together the entire ecosystem—pharma, life sciences, hospitals, startups, investors, and government, to address the industry’s toughest challenges and unlock new opportunities through innovation. Across three days of world-class content and purposeful networking in Basel, we celebrate how cutting-edge technologies are transforming care, accelerating research, and redefining patient outcomes. What sets us apart is our ability to break down silos and connect the full spectrum of healthcare stakeholders around the shared goal of advancing health through tech.
What role do Basel and the Messe and Congress Center Basel play in ensuring a successful first edition in the city?
Basel is the beating heart of Europe’s pharma and life sciences industry, home to leading companies, world-class research, and one of the most active health innovation communities anywhere in the world. That makes it the ideal setting for health.tech. With one of the highest levels of health-related startup investment per capita globally, Basel is a natural hub for driving new ideas into the market. The Messe and Congress Center Basel provide the perfect venue to connect this vibrant ecosystem, offering a central, accessible, and world-class stage for the conversations and partnerships that will shape the future of healthcare.
Which learnings from the first events in Munich are being incorporated into the concept for 2026 in Basel? What will remain the same – and what will you do differently?
Our first editions in Munich laid a strong foundation, achieving an NPS above 50 and featuring inspiring speakers such as Michael J. Fox. We built a reputation for bringing together top voices and nurturing a vibrant startup–investor ecosystem, fueled by our roots at the Bits & Pretzels Founders Festival. These strengths remain central, and we will continue to engage high-profile industry leaders while supporting innovative startups and investors.
What’s evolving is the scale and scope — and the focus on technology as the engine of healthcare transformation. Basel allows us to significantly expand: more participants, broader representation across the healthcare value chain, and deeper engagement with pharma, life sciences, hospitals, and insurers. We’re raising the bar on content with more sessions, greater depth, and a sharper focus on the technological innovations tackling healthcare’s most pressing challenges and opportunities globally, with particular attention to Europe’s role in a competitive international landscape. Munich gave us credibility, Basel positions us at the forefront of healthcare tech innovation.
What role should the health.tech | global summit 2026 play in the medium term within the European innovation ecosystem of the life sciences industry?
Our ambition is for health.tech to become the go-to platform that bridges traditional divides and unites all elements of healthcare innovation. We want it to be a fixture in the calendar where breakthroughs are not only showcased but interrogated from multiple perspectives including clinical, commercial, regulatory, and technological. Too often, communication gaps between industries slow progress. By breaking down those silos, we can accelerate innovation and create real impact across Europe and beyond.
What do you personally wish for from the first edition in Basel? How should the event evolve in the coming years?
For the first edition in Basel, I want us to create a genuine “I was there” moment. An event so valuable and distinctive that attendees leave knowing they’ve witnessed something important. Basel sits at the center of Europe’s healthcare future, and we have the opportunity to put it firmly on the global map for health tech innovation.
Looking ahead, we want to move far beyond the traditional trade show model of exhibition stands. Our focus is on collaboration, co-creation, and scaling solutions that genuinely improve lives. By bringing the right mix of audiences, partners, and sponsors together, health.tech global summit will become a cornerstone event, where missing out could mean overlooking the innovations and partnerships that shape the direction of the entire industry.
