ICT&health World Conference 2027
Tuesday 26 till Thursday 28 January 2027
Healthcare transformation is no longer a future discussion. It is already shaping daily practice in hospitals, primary care, homes and boardrooms. Clinical AI supports decision making, digital triage is becoming standard in primary care, robotics and smart logistics reduce workload and interoperable data infrastructures connect healthcare systems across regions and countries.
The ICT&health World Conference is the annual gathering where healthcare leaders, clinicians, policymakers, researchers and technology innovators come together to discuss how these developments are implemented in practice.
With thousands of participants and a community in which more than seventy percent work directly in healthcare, the conference offers a unique environment where practical experience, policy, technology and leadership meet.
Solutions are demonstrated, implementations are discussed and collaborations are initiated. Ideas are tested and strategic decisions take shape.
If you want to understand where healthcare is heading, this is where the conversation happens.
Location: MECC Maastricht
Information
Where healthcare transformation takes shape
Where healthcare transformation moves from strategy to implementation.
Healthcare is changing faster than ever. Clinical AI supports decision-making in hospitals, digital triage is becoming standard in primary care, robotics and smart logistics reduce pressure on staff, and interoperable data infrastructures connect regions and countries. At the same time, workforce shortages, financial pressure and organisational complexity are increasing. Innovation is no longer the main challenge. The real challenge lies in alignment, implementation and strategic decision-making.
The ICT&health World Conference brings together more than 10,000 healthcare professionals, executives, policymakers and innovators to demonstrate what works, what scales and which decisions are needed to realise healthcare transformation. The conference is recognised as one of the leading healthcare gatherings in Europe and builds on previous editions, including 2026, where healthcare, policy and technology came together at scale around real implementation challenges. More than seventy percent of participants work directly in healthcare, ranging from executives and medical specialists to nurses, CIOs and policymakers, engaging with technology partners, universities and international organisations.
The Netherlands is internationally recognised as one of the frontrunners. This makes the conference a natural meeting point for organisations working on the future of healthcare. The exhibition floor shows what is already working in practice and what is emerging. From AI in radiology and primary care to robotics, remote monitoring and hybrid care models. It also demonstrates how data can be securely shared and how digital infrastructures are built to be interoperable.
The discussions focus not on promises, but on implementation, governance, scaling and financing. This is where the difference between hype and proven practice becomes clear. The programme includes more than 150 in-depth sessions across three days, featuring international keynotes, executive panels, deep dives, strategic workshops and live demonstrations.
Many sessions reach capacity quickly, and increasingly organisations participate with multidisciplinary teams. By bringing together leadership, clinical practice, IT and policy at the same time, space is created not only for joint decision-making and direct translation into implementation, but also for stronger alignment across teams and organisations. For many organisations, the conference has become a key moment in the year to align internally, strengthen collaboration and accelerate implementation.
Those who want to understand what works, what scales and which decisions are shaping the future of healthcare will find the knowledge, practical experience and the right people to move forward together.
Key themes
The programme brings together practical experience, leadership and scientific insight. In 2027, the following themes will receive focused attention:
- cultural transformation and leadership within healthcare organisations
- the European AI agenda and international AI developments
- the implementation of the European Health Data Space
- interoperability and data governance
- digital healthcare infrastructure and architecture
- data-driven care and population health management
- diagnostic innovation and acceleration of care processes
- innovation in nursing practice and workforce transformation
- hybrid care models and remote care
- sustainable funding, financing and cybersecurity
Not as separate topics, but as interconnected themes where policy, technology and implementation reinforce each other in practice.
From strategy to implementation in practice
The programme spans three days and continuously connects vision, implementation and practice, from clinical applications and technological innovation to strategic decision-making, scaling and real-world impact. Throughout the conference, all perspectives come together, from medical specialists and nurses to executives, CIOs, policymakers and innovators, enabling an integrated approach to complex challenges and accelerating meaningful progress.
The strength of the programme lies in the connection between the days. Insights from practice are linked to strategic decisions and policy development, and vice versa. This makes it possible not only to understand what is happening, but also to take concrete steps towards implementation and scaling. From the Netherlands, with Limburg as a meeting place in the heart of Europe, ICT&health plays a connecting role between countries and healthcare systems. What is discussed during the conference does not stop after three days, but continues throughout the year via the ICT&health platform, interviews and podcasts.
Anyone working to improve healthcare understands that innovation alone is not enough. It requires collaboration, decision-making and accountability. The ICT&health World Conference brings together the people who make these decisions and turn them into reality.
For participation or strategic partnerships, please contact: events@icthealth.org
Program
The programme of the ICT&health World Conference 2027 is carefully designed around the central question facing healthcare today: what works, what scales, and which decisions truly make the difference?
Over three days, international keynotes, in-depth sessions, strategic workshops and live demonstrations are brought together in a format that connects policy, practice and technology. Not isolated presentations, but coherent programme tracks in which implementation is the guiding principle.
In 2027, the programme will provide additional depth in areas such as the international AI track, the European data agenda and the European Health Data Space, cultural change and leadership, nursing innovation and the established Nurse Track, hybrid care models, governance and sustainable financing. Dedicated sessions will address the specific perspectives of board members, healthcare professionals, IT leaders, technology partners and public authorities.
Live podcast recordings will also be integrated into the programme, offering space for speakers and experts to deepen and contextualise the dialogue.
The full programme will be announced in the coming months. What is already clear is that substance, practical relevance and measurable impact will lead the agenda.
Search for sessions
Conference board
The ICT&health World Conference 2027 is guided by a dedicated Conference Board consisting of Lucien Engelen, Conny Helder, Bianca Rouwenhorst and Tom Xhofleer. Together, they combine experience from clinical practice, executive leadership, public policy and international innovation. Through their respective roles and networks, they safeguard the substantive direction of the conference and ensure that the programme reflects the realities shaping healthcare in the Netherlands and internationally.
The Conference Board advises on the strategic thematic lines, the selection of speakers and the positioning of the conference within the broader healthcare landscape. In doing so, it ensures that the ICT&health World Conference is not only current, but also directional and relevant for decision-makers and professionals. Their involvement underscores the character of the conference as a content-driven platform where quality, implementation and collaboration are central.
Lucien Engelen
Chair, Conference Board ICT&health
Conny Helder
Member Conference Board ICT&health
Bianca Rouwenhorst
Member Conference Board Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Tom Xhofleer
Member Conference Board ICT&healthImpression
Location
The ICT&health World Conference 2026 takes place at MECC Maastricht, located at Forum 100, 6229 GV Maastricht, the Netherlands. This international convention centre sits in the heart of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion and is easily accessible from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Thanks to the city’s compact layout, the congress venue, hotels and the historic city centre are all within short distance of each other.
MECC Maastricht offers modern conference facilities, extensive exhibition space and all the infrastructure required for international knowledge exchange. Combined with Maastricht’s historic city centre nearby, it creates an environment where discussions, networking and new collaborations naturally continue beyond the conference sessions.
Accommodation
Would you like to combine your visit with a comfortable stay, as many other participants do? You can book your hotel accommodation here and secure your stay in Maastricht during the conference.
Car
As you approach Maastricht, you will see ‘MECC’ indicated on motorway signs; these will guide you to the MECC Maastricht car parks. Coming from Amsterdam/Eindhoven, take exit 55 (Randwyck-MECC) and from Paris-Liège take exit 56 (Gronsveld-MECC).
Open in MapsBus
A bus leaves every five minutes from Maastricht city centre or Maastricht Central Station headed to MECC Maastricht (Forum MECC bus stop).
Plan your trip with 9292ov.nlTrain
The Maastricht-Randwyck train station is 250 metres from MECC Maastricht, and is connected to an international rail network. There are also regular connections to Maastricht Central Station which is part of the (inter)national rail network.
Plan your trip with 9292ov.nlAirplane
Several international airports are located within a short travel distance, including Maastricht Aachen Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Brussels Airport and Düsseldorf Airport. Thanks to the compact nature of the city, hotels, restaurants and the historic centre are all within easy reach of the conference venue.
Plan your tripThe city as an extension of the conference
Maastricht is compact, accessible and internationally oriented. The historic city centre is located just minutes from MECC. Conversations continue there after the sessions conclude, in an informal setting where executives, professionals and innovators meet in an environment where content and networking naturally come together.
In collaboration with Visit Maastricht, Maastricht Marketing and the Maastricht Convention Bureau, additional activities and tailored arrangements are developed for participants and exhibitors. These may include cultural programmes, culinary experiences and partner events. All options are offered through a dedicated environment, with bookings and arrangements handled directly between participant and provider.
For inspiration on accommodation and activities, please visit the city’s official platform: Visit Maastricht.
Limburg as a strategic meeting place
From Limburg, the conference gains broader European relevance. The region functions as a bridge between countries and healthcare systems, strengthening both the international positioning of the conference and the Netherlands as a global hub. The combination of accessibility, scalability and hospitality makes Maastricht a logical location for a platform where international collaboration and implementation are central.
Join the ICT&health World Conference 2027. For participation or strategic partnership: events@icthealth.org
