2nd KIMed Network Partner Forum in Dresden: Bringing AI Applications into Healthcare
News | 4 May 2026
How can Artificial Intelligence be sustainably integrated into healthcare? This guiding question formed the focus of the 2nd KIMed Network Partner Forum, which took place on 30 April 2026 in the Dülfer Hall at Dresden University of Technology. Around 85 representatives from clinical practice, health research, IT, Digital Health companies and start-ups came together to exchange views on current developments, establish new connections and discuss concrete applications of AI in medicine.
Welcome Addresses Highlighted the Importance of Interdisciplinary Networking
At the opening of the event, the Principal Investigators (PIs) of the KIMed sites in Dresden and Leipzig emphasised the role of the network as a connecting platform between disciplines and institutions. “It is important to look beyond one’s own field in order to see what we can achieve together,” said Prof. Dr Martin Sedlmayr, Director of the Centre for Medical Informatics (ZMI) at Dresden University of Technology. At the same time, Dr Eveline Prochaska, PI for the Dresden site within the KIMed network, emphasised: “The goal of KIMed is not only to facilitate exchange, but also to support the concrete implementation of AI applications in healthcare.” Prof. Dr Thomas Neumuth highlighted the project’s unique position within Saxony: KIMed is the only AI network project in the medical field operating across the whole of Saxony and thrives on the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders.
Expert Presentations Showed What AI Can – and Cannot – Do
The expert presentations demonstrated that AI in medicine is already a practical reality. Whether this development means that physicians will become obsolete was clearly answered by all three speakers: AI can help make healthcare more patient-centred – as a complement to, not a replacement for, physicians.
Prof. Dr med. Tjalf Ziemssen (Head of the Dresden Multiple Sclerosis Centre) illustrated this using the metaphor of an aircraft in which patients, supported by AI and accompanied by physicians as co-pilots, can navigate their individual care pathways. He provided compelling examples of how digital twins – data-based representations of real patients – can support the management of multiple sclerosis.
Dr med. Jan-Niklas Eckardt, Head of the Research Group “Artificial Intelligence in Hematology” at the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health Dresden, presented an algorithm capable of identifying biomarkers in haematology quickly and with high precision.
Valentin Forch from Chemnitz University of Technology explored the opportunities and limitations of automated case documentation in psychotherapy.
“From Impact Factor to Real Impact”
The subsequent panel discussion made it clear that the key challenge lies less in the technology itself and more in its successful implementation. AI solutions must prove their value within real healthcare processes, be developed through interdisciplinary collaboration and ultimately deliver tangible benefits for patients and healthcare professionals. Dr Jan-Niklas Eckardt summarised this perspective succinctly by calling for research to move beyond academic publications and into healthcare practice – “from a focus on impact factors to a focus on real impact”.
Interdisciplinary Exchange at the Heart of the Event
Alongside the presentations, personal networking was a central element of the forum. Discussions between representatives from research, clinical practice, IT and industry led to numerous new contacts and conversations about concrete applications and challenges relating to the transfer of AI into healthcare. Dialogue with regional companies, start-ups and partner institutions from Dresden and across Saxony was particularly intensive. The interactive poster stations on data access, data processing and knowledge exchange also provided opportunities for in-depth discussions with members of the KIMed project team. The positive feedback and lively exchange clearly demonstrated how essential interdisciplinary collaboration is for the successful transfer of AI into healthcare.
The KIMed team would like to thank the Dresden project team for organising a successful event and all speakers, partners and participants for their valuable contributions and strong interest in the network.
The next KIMed Network Partner Forum will take place in Leipzig on 28 October 2026.
