The future of digital healthcare was on display in Hamburg, where Handelsblatt and Techniker Krankenkasse presented the eighth edition of the Health-i Award. The event honored some of the most innovative minds in the health-tech sector and underscored Germany’s growing strength in digital healthcare innovation.
The Special International Award went to European neuroscientists Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch for their work with Onward Medical. Their goal is to restore mobility to people with spinal cord injuries through a novel neurostimulation technology. After promising research results, they now plan to bring the technology to market next year.
Third place went to Semanux, a start-up that developed software allowing people with physical impairments to control a computer touch-free using only a webcam. The system works intuitively and does not require any special hardware, making it especially valuable for users with limited fine motor skills.
Second place was awarded to Neo Q for its product RadioReport, a service designed to transform radiology workflows. Instead of relying on lengthy dictations, RadioReport generates structured, machine-readable reports supported by AI-based image analysis. The tool is intended to improve efficiency for radiologists and reduce the risk of human error.
First place went to Munich-based CureVision, which developed a 3D wound scanner aimed at improving the documentation and treatment of chronic wounds. Using artificial intelligence, the scanner analyzes and records wounds in a short amount of time, helping save both time and costs in the healthcare system.
Together, these winners represent the momentum and creativity currently driving digital healthcare in Germany. Their ideas suggest that the future of care could become more precise, more efficient, and more accessible.