EMBO | Helmholtz policy workshop on Biomedical Engineering

On 3–4 March 2026, EMBO and Helmholtz Munich brought together leading voices from research, funding, industry, policy, and investment for the policy workshop Biomedical Engineering – Science Translation for Future Health.

Held at EMBO in Heidelberg, the workshop explored how biomedical engineering can help shape the future of health in Europe and what is needed to strengthen the field as a driver of innovation, translation, and economic growth.

The closed workshop convened 25 experts from Europe, the United States, and Asia, creating space for focused discussion across disciplines and sectors. Participants shared perspectives from basic research, funding organisations, venture capital, industry, the European Union, and the German government.

The discussions led to a white paper calling for a European Bioengineering Agenda.

The workshop’s main messages were also presented in a Nature Comment, Europe can become a bioengineering powerhouse with these three changes.

Further reading

• EMBO highlights
• Helmholtz Munich highlights