Boston – October 17, 2026 -- The MedTech Conference, running October 18–21 in Boston, will include 65 early- and mid-stage companies from the 2026 MedTech Innovator cohort, chosen from more than 1,800 applicants, alongside a program that makes digital health a core thread of the event, according to AdvaMed Digital Health Tech's new executive director.
Four policy areas drive the digital health agenda
AdvaMed Digital Health Tech's work spans regulation; payment and health care delivery; data access and stewardship; and cybersecurity. The executive director, whose background at AdvaMed is in coverage, payment and care delivery policy, said progress in each area depends on the other three.
Payment is a particular focus. AdvaMed is advocating for greater clarity and predictability around Medicare coverage and payment for software, AI and other digital health technologies.
Sessions pair device makers with payers, coders and compliance counsel
A town hall titled DHT Signal will bring together members of AdvaMed's Digital Health Tech Board to discuss policy and advocacy issues in digital health and AI. A session on longitudinal data will feature Philips, WHOOP, NYU Langone and the CMS Innovation Center. Edwards Lifesciences, Synchron and Canary Medical will cover connected implants.
On adoption, a panel on integrating AI with CPT will include experts from Medtronic, the American Medical Association, Frank Healthcare Advisors and the AMA RVS Update Committee. A legal and compliance session will bring together Boston Scientific, Baxter Healthcare, Cook Medical and Faegre Drinker to discuss privacy, AI and cybersecurity.
Microsoft and Google add AI programming on the opening Sunday
Medtech Frontier AI Day, a Microsoft-sponsored half-day program on Sunday, will cover responsible governance, workforce readiness, connected care, commercial engagement, product innovation and market access. Google will run Build with Gemini, a hands-on workshop on building and scaling autonomous AI agents; RSVP is required.
Robert Cohen, DHT Board Chair and Vice President, Innovation and Technology, Orthopaedic Group at Stryker, will lead judging for the second NextGen Innovation Robotics Challenge, a one-day engineering competition focused on personalized surgery and healthcare innovation.
Eight device makers will demo products at the Tech in Motion Hub
BD, Butterfly Network, Dexcom, Edwards Lifesciences, Philips, iRhythm, Solventum and Stryker will run live technology demonstrations. First-time exhibitors include HCLTech, Health-ISAC, i-GENTIC AI, myQMS.ai, Red Balloon Security and TENNR, spanning enterprise technology, cybersecurity, AI and workflow optimization.
The wider attendee community includes Abbott, GE HealthCare, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Medtronic, Resmed, Siemens Healthineers, Zimmer Biomet and ZOLL.
Twelve military health startups get eight minutes each in front of investors
The Pitch & Pour Start-Up Pitch Competition on Sunday, October 18 will put 12 early-stage companies focused on military health before investors, strategics and industry decision-makers. Each gets five minutes to pitch and three for Q&A. Technologies range from wearable trauma-care devices and rapid diagnostics to smart emergency triage, predictive clinical intelligence and next-generation wound care.
The MedTech Innovator 2026 winner will be chosen at the Finals on Tuesday, October 20, with attendees helping to select it. The cohort will also appear in sector-based showcase sessions and 1:1 partnering meetings.