Vector Medical Engineering Symposium 2026
October 14 & 15, 2026
Vector Campus Karlsruhe
Registration is open for the 4th Vector Medical Engineering Symposium.
Join us for two days dedicated to advancing innovation, quality, and efficiency in medical embedded software and software-driven systems. The Vector Medical Engineering Symposium brings together experts from management, development, research, and healthcare to explore the latest trends, challenges, and practical solutions.
The program combines expert presentations, a dedicated exhibition, a panel discussion, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities — creating a focused forum for exchanging ideas, gaining insights, and shaping the future of medical technology.
Program Focus
The agenda is structured around three core topics that are currently shaping medical device engineering.
AI in MedTech
Understand where AI can create realistic value in medical technology — from data-driven development and simulation to training, assistance systems and future clinical workflows.
Software-Defined Medical Devices
Gain perspectives on architecture, embedded software platforms, virtual development, testing and lifecycle engineering for increasingly software-driven medical systems.
Interoperability & IEEE11073 SDC
Explore practical approaches for connected medical devices, standardized communication, testable integration and vendor-independent interoperability in clinical environments.
What to Expect
The Vector Medical Engineering Symposium 2026 will start at the Vector Campus Karlsruhe on Wed, Oct 14 at 12:00. Day One will end with an informal get-together.
Talks on Day Two on Thu, Oct 15 will be from 9:00 to 15:00, followed by workshop opportunities.
The Program Includes
- Keynotes with strategic perspectives from MedTech, software engineering and clinical practice
- Expert talks on current challenges in medical device engineering
- Panel discussion on future topics in MedTech
- Exhibition with technology insights and exchange opportunities
- Hands-on workshops on SDC, CANopen and Swosh Software Platform / SIL & HIL
- Get-together for networking and community exchange on Wednesday evening
Confirmed Program Highlights
The program is taking shape. Explore the first confirmed highlights — with more speakers, talks and detailed abstracts to be announced continuously.
Keynote: Connected Care: Automotive Software Principles in Modern Medicine
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eric Sax, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
How can practical experience from automotive software engineering help shape the future of medical technology? This keynote explores transferable principles such as software-controlled functionality, model-based development, continuous updates, cloud connectivity, anomaly detection, cybersecurity and safety-critical validation.
Keynote: Modern Computer-Assisted Concepts for Surgical Simulation and Education, and Hands-On Training Models in Neurosurgery
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Uwe Spetzger, Klinikum Karlsruhe – SKK / Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
This keynote presents modern simulation and training concepts for neurosurgery, including virtual reality, augmented reality and practical hands-on training models. The session shows how computer-assisted education can support surgical training, maintain expert skills and contribute to patient safety.
Keynote: Vector's SDS Strategy for the MedTech Market
Dr. Thomas Beck, Managing Director, Vector Informatik
Software-defined systems are changing how medical devices are developed, integrated, validated and maintained. This keynote will outline Vector’s strategic perspective on supporting MedTech companies with tools, embedded software platforms and engineering services for software-defined medical device development.
Panel Discussion: Software-Defined but Safe: How Fast Can MedTech Innovate?
Experts from MD Manufacturing, Regulatory, Consultancy and Vector
Software-defined medical devices, AI, cybersecurity, regulation, and global competitiveness are increasingly interconnected. This panel discussion explores how MedTech companies can accelerate innovation while maintaining patient safety, regulatory confidence, and economically viable development models.
Topics include continuous delivery in regulated environments, update frequency for approved medical devices, agile development versus stable product configurations, reassessment and recertification of software changes, regulation as a barrier or advantage, and responsibility after software or AI updates.
Workshop Opportunities
The workshops will last about an hour each, and will run twice immediately following the presentations on the second day of the event. This will give you the chance to attend up to two out of three workshop offers. Please select your workshops during your registration.
Please note: seats are limited!
CANopen: In 20 min from EDS to Remaining Bus Simulation
CANopen is an important protocol standard in modern medical device communication. Learn in a compact hands-on experience how to efficiently implement a CANopen network simulation, using a given EDS file and a simulation and testing environment.
Simulating CANopen devices in early stages for the development process has a decisive effect on your total development time and the quality of implementation.
Your host will be Kai Jansen
Shift Left, Ship Faster: Swosh — The Unified Embedded Ecosystem ...
.. for Modern Medical Device Development.
Short-term hardware obsolescence can create major challenges for development teams, especially in complex, quality-critical systems.
In this workshop, we demonstrate through a practical end-to-end demo how hardware changes can be managed efficiently and with reduced risk. Participants will see how replacing obsolete components impacts the existing software stack — and how to address this in a structured way.
The focus is on a consistent shift-left approach: software adaptations are implemented early in the development environment, tested using Software-in-the-Loop, integrated into a virtualized system, and finally validated with Hardware-in-the-Loop.
Your host will be Dr. Lars Braun
Developing Medical Devices in the SDC Ecosystem – A Test-Driven Approach
IEEE 111073 SDC is undoubtedly the new standard for interoperability in the operating room and the intensive care unit.
This workshop provides an introduction to the implementation of SDC-compatible devices and their testing.
Workshop Hosts: Nadine Schnabel and Marvin Gerhardt.
Agenda at a Glance
| Date | Time | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 14 | 12:00–18:00 | Keynotes, expert talks and panel discussion; exhibition |
| Wednesday, October 14 | 18:30–22:00 | Get-together and networking |
| Thursday, October 15 | 09:00–15:00 | Technical talks and exhibition |
| Thursday, October 15 | 15:00–16:50 | Hands-on Workshops |
Review: Vector Medical Engineering Symposium 2025
The Vector Medical Engineering Symposium, held in October 2025, evolved into a major international event for the MedTech community. Across two days, attendees experienced expert talks, technical deep dives, and lively discussions.
