AIMD Workshop 2025: Two Days of Active Implants Innovation in Barcelona

It has been already five months since we met in Barcelona for the Active Implantable Medical Devices Workshop 2025! We are delighted to share with you now this comprehensive recap of the event.

The AIMD Workshop 2025 brought together over 150 participants at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona for a standout two-day program showcasing the state of the art in the Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMDs) domain.

Researchers, entrepreneurs, clinicians, and regulators gathered to showcase innovations, confront challenges, and accelerate the path from research to clinical applications.

Program Highlights

Neurosurgeons Leading the Shift Toward Network-Based Neuromodulation

Dirk De Ridder (University of Otago) and Gloria Villalba (Hospital del Mar) emphasized the need to abandon traditional single-target stimulation and embrace network-level neuromodulation strategies. Both stressed the importance of clinical collaboration with engineers and shared outcomes from pioneering DBS trials in psychiatric and pain-related disorders.

Soft Electrodes and Next-Gen Materials

The future of implants is flexible, adaptive, and miniaturized:

Vasiliki Giagka (TU Delft) demonstrated battery-free, soft neuroelectronics with polymer-based barriers and long-term in vivo validation.
Giuseppe Schiavone (USN) and Jose A. Garrido (ICN2, INBRAIN, ICREA) showcased graphene and microfabricated electrodes, balancing mechanical compliance with high-resolution recording and stimulation.ç
Anton Guimerà-Brunet (IMB-CNM, CSIC) presented breakthroughs in high-resolution infraslow cortical mapping using gSGFET arrays.

Clinical-Ready Innovations Across Use Cases

AIMDs applications are diversifying rapidly:

Paul Goode (Glucotrack) introduced a fully implantable CGM with First-in-Human data.
Francesco Petrini (Sensars) showed how intraneural stimulation can restore sensory feedback and reduce falls and pain in amputees.
Ben Woodington (Coherence Neuro) presented shape-adapting, MRI-compatible implants for brain cancer therapy.
Waldo Nogueira (Hannover Medical School & UAB) explored auditory neuroprosthetics bridging peripheral and central stimulation.
Laura Becerra-Fajardo (UPF) unveiled wireless-powered AIMDs via volume conduction (eAXON & FORESEE) for neurostimulation and heart failure monitoring.

From Lab to Clinic: Quality as a Catalyst

In a standout session, Thomas Stieglitz (University of Freiburg) shared 15 years of experience building an ISO 13485 QMS within academia, showing how robust processes enable clinical trials, collaborative development, and technology translation. This session tied directly into the workshop’s strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary, translational strategy.

Strategic Panel Discussions

Designing the Future: Needs and Challenges for the Next Generation of AIMDs

Moderated by Antoni Ivorra (UPF), this technology-focused panel addressed technical drivers such as hermetic packaging, miniaturization, materials, wireless power, and cybersecurity.

Panelists:

Jean-Louis Divoux – MedTech Innovation Advisor, A!MD
Paul V. Goode – CEO, Glucotrack Inc.
Julien Gauthier – Sales Manager, CISTEO MEDICAL
Jose De la Cruz – R&D Engineer, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics
Pauline Amblard – Medical Sales Manager, SCT Ceramics
Nicolás Barabino – Founder & Principal Consultant, ADCORPUS

Innovating in Europe: What Opportunities and Risks Are European AIMD Startups Facing?

Moderated by Nicolás Barabino (ADCORPUS), this policy- and market-focused panel explored the realities of AIMD commercialization in the EU under MDR, strategies for First-in-Human studies, and how to secure talent and IP.

Panelists:

Enric Claverol – Founding Partner, Afferent Technologies
Jean-Louis Divoux – MedTech Innovation Advisor, A!MD
Thorsten Göettsche – CTO, Osypka Medtec Inc. & OSYPKA AG
Victor Pikov – President, Medipace Inc.
Christian Wende – Patent Attorney, DTS Patent-und Rechtsanwälte
Ben Woodington – CEO, Coherence Neuro

Both panels featured rapid-fire rounds and engaging Q&A, offering attendees rare access to firsthand insights from AIMD innovators and other key stakeholders.

Thanks to Our Sponsors and Organizers!

We would like to thank our sponsors and organizers for making this event possible.

Golden Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Co-Organized by: BERG UPF and ADCORPUS
Hosted by: Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Program Chairs: Antoni Ivorra (UPF) & Nicolás Barabino (ADCORPUS)