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Kickoff for the Digital Innovation Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg / Dialogue with Freiburg’s healthcare industry / Visit to the Interventional Radiology Center

Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs for Baden-Württemberg, visited the Medical Center – University of Freiburg on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The focus was on the kickoff for the Digital Innovation Center (DIGIZ) and discussions with representatives of Freiburg’s healthcare industry. The state of Baden-Württemberg is providing approximately 25 million euros in funding to support the establishment of a diagnostic and therapeutic research and development unit at DIGIZ. This initiative is intended to enable patients to benefit more quickly from new digital methods in diagnostics and therapy.

“The University Medical Center Freiburg, together with the global market leader Siemens Healthineers, has presented a particularly innovative concept. It makes an important contribution to digitalization in hospitals and thus to the application of artificial intelligence—a 

key driver for more efficient processes, better and faster diagnoses and treatments, and for optimizing nursing care and treatment,” said Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Crafts, and Tourism, during her visit to the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

“The state funding marks the launch of the Digital Innovation Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. A promising idea is now becoming a long-term hub for digital medicine,” said Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “We thank the Minister of Economic Affairs for her support and for guiding the project with such trust.”

Discussion on Digital Medicine and the Healthcare Industry

At the kick-off event, Prof. Dr. Fabian Bamberg, Medical Director of the Department of Radiology, and Dr. Stefan Schaller, Head of Region Central Western Europe at Siemens Healthineers, presented the DIGIZ concept. The center aims to bring together research, clinical application, industry, and start-ups at a single location. The focus is on digital technologies, modern imaging, artificial intelligence, and new medical technology procedures.

Following this, representatives from the hospital, the city, research institutions, and the regional healthcare industry discussed Freiburg as a healthcare hub with the minister.

“Freiburg is a strong healthcare hub in Baden-Württemberg, a strong state for healthcare. The healthcare industry introduces new procedures into patient care, creates local jobs, and strengthens the region in the long term,” said Wenz.

To conclude her visit, Minister of Economic Affairs Hoffmeister-Kraut visited the Radiological Intervention Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. There, she gained insights into a project that has already been successfully implemented and on which DIGIZ can build in the future: The Radiological Intervention Center demonstrates how modern imaging, interventional procedures, and digital technologies are already being used in patient care today and further developed scientifically.

Caption 1: (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Fabian Bamberg (1st from left), Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz (2nd), and Prof. Wiebke Uller (7th), Head of the Interventional Radiology Section, with Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (4th), and representatives from the city, state, and the healthcare industry.

Caption 2: Prof. Wenz in conversation with Minister Dr. Hoffmeister-Kraut and Dr. Stefan Schaller 

Caption 3: At the Interventional Radiology Center of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Hoffmeister-Kraut (2nd from left) gains insight into the possibilities of minimally invasive procedures.

Image source: Medical Center – University of Freiburg