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"Technology and AI in medicine. Unleashing innovation - untangling bureaucracy: the fine line of regulation" has highlighted the central role of technological medicine and described how innovation can be promoted and barriers removed

Medical technology saves people - every day. On October 11, 2025, experts from medicine, science, politics, law, industry and patient representatives met at a symposium of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle (Saale) to discuss the great importance of technological processes today, how innovations can be facilitated and how obstacles on the way to patients can be removed. Key topics included the opportunities and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) and bureaucratic obstacles in the research and development of medical technology. The event was organized by Prof. Dr. Anca-L. Grosu, Medical Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and Senator of the Academy, together with Prof. Dr. Maximilian Reiser, Deputy Senator and former Director of Radiology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

"Germany is one of the world's strongest locations for medical technology and innovation. Unfortunately, this is sometimes overlooked. We wanted to change this with our symposium and create a common understanding in research, politics and law. This includes explaining how medical innovations are created and the great value that technology and AI have for medicine. The symposium has enabled us to take an important step forward in this regard," says Grosu.

An important aspect of the discussions was dealing with the bureaucratic hurdles that often slow down clinical research and development in Germany. "If we want to bring innovations to patients faster, we need more efficient processes and less bureaucracy - this can only be achieved by working together. Of course, the top priority is and remains patient safety," said Reiser.

In specialist presentations, speakers from the fields of medicine, science, politics, law, industry and patient representatives highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research for modern, data-driven medicine. Among other things, they explained how care data can improve the quality of treatment in real time with the help of AI and presented ways in which partnerships between science and industry can accelerate innovation.

Legal and ethical issues also played a central role. There was intensive discussion on how data protection, patient protection and scientific progress can be better reconciled.

"Germany has very bright minds, excellent university hospitals and one of the world's largest locations for medical technology - this obliges us to enable innovation responsibly," says Grosu.