Medica AI 2026

Healthcare is entering a decisive decade.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a promise on the horizon – it is already transforming diagnostics, treatment, research, education and health systems worldwide. The real challenge we now face is not whether AI will change healthcare, but how we design that transformation responsibly, sustainably and at scale.

Medica AI – The conference 2026, at the Champalimaud Foundation, looks beyond adoption and asks a more ambitious question: what kind of AI-driven healthcare do we want by 2050? And what must we do now to build it? Following the 2025 keynote “Are You Ready for AI-Driven Healthcare?”, Medica AI 2026 moves the conversation forward: from readiness to responsibility, governance and long-term vision.

This year’s conference projects AI in healthcare across a 2050 horizon, exploring how today’s clinical, technological, educational, economic and regulatory choices will shape the future of medicine for generations to come.

The last edition of Medica AI 2026 brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, technologists, educators, policy experts and innovators to address AI in health as a system-level transformation, not merely a technological upgrade.

Looking ahead to 2050 starts now. The future of AI-driven healthcare will not be defined by algorithms alone. It will be shaped by human choices, values and leadership.

Fees & registration

Google AI medical hackathon
€150* (limited to 26 participants)
*Includes ticket to the conference

The conference 
€49 from 16 July 2025 to 16 September 2025 
€59 from 17 September 2025 to 19 June 2026
€79 from 20 June 2026 onwards

Yoga class
€10 (limited to 25 participants)

To register, please submit your registration form here. 

What to expect from the conference 

Inspiring talks
Hear from world-class experts on how AI is revolutionising medical practice and research.

Real-world applications
Discover how AI is being used in hospitals, labs, and biotech companies today.

Interactive discussions
Engage with leading minds in medicine, AI and healthcare innovation.

Networking opportunities
Connect with pioneers shaping the future of healthcare.

Conference key topics 

The evolution of clinical roles in an AI-driven healthcare ecosystem.
The integration of AI into prevention, diagnosis, treatment and population health.
The economic and societal impact of AI on healthcare systems.
The skills, education, and leadership required for 21st-century medicine.
Ethical, regulatory and governance frameworks for sustainable AI adoption.

Conference speakers

1 – Catarina Farinha – Staff AI Product Manager, Sword
2 – Igor Matias – Researcher and Teaching Assistant, University of Geneva
3 – João Santinha – Co-Group Leader, Digital Surgery Lab, Champalimaud Foundation
4 – Lucien Engelen – CEO, Transform.health 
5 – Luís João – Head of Public Sector and Healthcare, Google Cloud
6 – Maria Batrakova – Researcher, Champalimaud Foundation
7 – Maria João Cardoso – Director, Breast Cancer Research Programme, Champalimaud Foundation
8 – Paulo Simões – Invited Professor, ISCTE-IUL
9 – Pedro Gouveia – Chief Medical Officer, Champalimaud Foundation
10 – Regina Beets-tan – Professor, Radiology Maastricht University
11 – Tiago Marques – Co-Group Leader, Digital Surgery Lab, Champalimaud Foundation

Who should attend to the conference?

Healthcare professionals and clinical leaders
Researchers and educators
Technologists
Policy makers and regulators
Health system executives
Innovators and entrepreneurs

If you are involved in designing, governing, teaching, or delivering healthcare, this conference is for you.


The programme will be announced soon.

Google AI medical hackathon

Reimagining healthcare in 4 hours with Google AI studio
For the first time, Medica AI is preceded by a Google medical AI hackathon for physicians and healthcare professionals.
In this hands-on pre-event, doctors and other healthcare professionals, regardless of prior technical background, will work with Google AI Studio to design and build AI-powered solutions for real clinical challenges. No coding experience is required. The focus is on clinical relevance, real-world impact and structured mentorship throughout the process.

The premise
You know the problems best: endless charting, confusing patient handouts, administrative bottlenecks and burnout. Until now, solving these problems meant waiting for IT or hiring a developer. Not anymore. Join a high-intensity, 4-hour hackathon designed exclusively for healthcare professionals. You don’t need to code – you’ll go straight to the solution using Google AI Studio. Your clinical domain knowledge is the only “programming language” you need.

Prerequisites
No coding required.
Laptop (Chromebook/Mac/PC)
A personal Google account (Gmail)
Curiosity, desire to learn and willingness to collaborate is a must.

“House rules”
HIPAA / GDPR first: Do not upload real protected health information (PHI). 
Prompting is iterative: Your first try won’t work. Your fifth try will do the magic.
Collaborate: teams of two create the best solutions.

What you will do
Using Gemini in Google AI Studio, you’ll build practical AI assistants for real clinical workflows by writing plain-English system instructions (prompts) and testing them with sample documents (no real patient data).

What you will learn
Engineer prompts: shape the assistant’s role, tone, boundaries and step-by-step reasoning so it responds like a domain specialist.
Use multimodal AI: create tools that can interpret clinical visuals – such as X-rays, skin lesions, or wound photos.

Learn more about the programme and the instructors here.

Why does Medica AI 2026 matter?

Medica AI is not about showcasing technology. It is about shaping direction.

By projecting healthcare to 2050, this edition challenges participants to think beyond short-term adoption and consider:
- How AI can support prevention, precision medicine, and health equity;
- How clinicians’ roles will evolve from task execution to clinical orchestration;
- How education, regulation, and economics must adapt to AI-driven healthcare;
- How Europe can position itself strategically in a global health innovation landscape.

A conference for those shaping the future.
 

Medica AI scientific conference organising committee

 
1 – Pedro Gouveia – Breast Surgeon, Breast Unit
2 – Tiago Marques – Computer Vision and Graphics, Digital Surgery Lab
3 – João Santinha – Medical Imaging and AI, Digital Surgery Lab

The venue and location

The Champalimaud Foundation is a world-renowned biomedical research center and cancer clinic, dedicated to pioneering advancements in medicine and healthcare. Situated in the historic riverside district of Belém, Lisbon, the venue offers a stunning setting where innovation meets history. Overlooking the Tagus River, Belém is home to some of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks, including the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery.
 

Previous editions

2024 - In celebration of the artificial intelligence appreciation day
2025 - Shaping era of healthcare