We are pleased to invite you to the 14th MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE, bringing together leading experts from sports medicine, science, technology, and related disciplines. The conference focuses on innovative approaches to prevention and elite sport performance, ranging from performance diagnostics and personalized training programs to digital health solutions.

As an accredited continuing education event, the conference offers top-level expertise, interdisciplinary exchange, and a clear outlook on the future of the sports and health industry.

Session 1 - Brain health – Optimizing the cognitive dimension in elite sports and a healthier ageing of the brain

Session 2 - Longevity boosters – Deep-diving into the world of nutrition and supplements

Session 3 - Guided innovation tour

Session 4 - Exercise is Medicine – Implementing international best practice

Session 5 - The obesity epidemic – Understanding and addressing challenges

Session 6 - The AI revolution – Transforming performance monitoring and diagnostics of elite athletes with an interdisciplinary approach

Session 7 - Shark tank of innovation – New and upcoming solutions for sports and health

Starting in 2026, the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE and the MEDICA SPORTS HUB will merge into a unique hotspot, offering conference participants, industry innovators, exhibitors, and trade visitors a shared space to connect and network.

The final conference of the Healthy Lifestyles for Europe project (HL4EU) took place at the Info Hub of the European Parliament in Brussels, organised in collaboration with EUPHA (European Public Health Association). The event marked the culmination of a 30-month Erasmus+ co-funded initiative that brought together stakeholders from physical activity, health, and active mobility to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and support systemic change.

KEY OUTCOMES

• Presentation of the project's final results, highlighting the urgent need to bridge gaps between sectors, from sport and health to urban planning and food, in order to effectively advance healthy lifestyles across Europe.
• Findings from the HL4EU database revealed uneven sector representation, with environmental sustainability and culture & arts still notably underrepresented.
• Launch of the HL4EU policy recommendations, emphasizing the need for stronger evidence, improved impact measurement, and a broader shift toward prevention.

DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS

Integrating physical activity into healthcare systems
Participants discussed moving beyond "box-ticking" policies toward meaningful implementation, addressing mental health more explicitly within physical activity frameworks, and tackling structural and funding barriers through shared responsibility across sectors.

Embedding physical activity across policies
Speakers underlined the need for stronger political leadership and cross-ministerial action, noting persistent under investment in prevention despite rising health costs. The role of community-driven initiatives and sustainable funding for innovation and inclusion were also key themes.

Standout examples from Portugal and Finland illustrated how coordinated government action, from early childhood initiatives to fiscal incentives,  can help embed physical activity into everyday life.

The conference concluded with a clear message: cross-sector collaboration only succeeds when supported by shared goals, a common language, and enabling policy frameworks.