DMEA sparks 2027: Focus on the next generation of digital healthcare

Fostering talent, opening up new perspectives, and strengthening intergenerational exchange: With DMEA sparks, the DMEA puts the industry’s next generation in the spotlight. This networking and career platform offers students, graduates, and young professionals the opportunity to connect with companies and experts, share their own ideas, and explore career opportunities. When Europe’s leading digital health event takes place for the first time in Munich from April 13 to 15, 2027, the DMEA sparks Award will once again be a central component of the initiative to support the next generation. The application period began on November 11, 2026—and the award will be presented live at the DMEA on April 14, 2027.

The digital transformation of the healthcare sector requires not only innovative solutions, but above all people who develop new ideas and drive change. With DMEA sparks, the DMEA aims to connect young professionals with the industry, actively shape the future of healthcare, and lay the foundation for a career in the health IT sector.

“We want to pass on our enthusiasm for digital health directly to the next generation and promote cross-generational thinking and action,” explains Doreen Kempa, project manager for DMEA sparks at the German Association for Health IT (bvitg e. V.), the organizer of DMEA. “At DMEA sparks, we’re laying the foundation for careers that will actively shape the healthcare system of tomorrow.”

DMEA sparks Award 2027: Spotlight on innovative research by the next generation

The DMEA sparks Award demonstrates how young professionals can already make concrete contributions to the further development of digital healthcare today. For about ten years, the competition has been recognizing outstanding bachelor’s and master’s theses in the fields of e-health, health IT, medical informatics, healthcare management, and related disciplines. This gives young researchers the opportunity to present their research findings to a broad audience of experts and to establish valuable contacts within the industry. Students and graduates can submit their theses from November 11, 2026, through January 17, 2027. An independent panel of experts will evaluate the submitted theses. The top five submissions from each of the Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis categories will qualify for the finals. On April 14, 2027, the ten finalists will present their research findings in live pitches to an audience and a panel of experts directly at the DMEA in Munich. Following the presentations, the best projects will be awarded prize money totaling 7,000 euros.

“Ideas emerge during college that can fundamentally transform the healthcare of tomorrow—the DMEA sparks Award gives them a big stage. For students, it offers a unique opportunity to inspire people in the e-health industry and make connections that can lead to career paths and collaborative projects; at the same time, as industry partners, we gain new perspectives and inspiration for our work. As a jury member and spokesperson for generation_next, I’m particularly inspired when the courage to present one’s own idea turns into a real opportunity for the future,” explains Eric Grey, Commercial Partner Lead at Thieme Compliance and jury member of bvitg generation_next. “DMEA sparks offers up-and-coming talent a great opportunity to present their ideas to a broad audience of experts and receive recognition for them. For me personally, the award was a wonderful affirmation of my work to date and an additional motivation to continue pursuing my path in this field,” adds Pascal Hansen, who won first place at the DMEA sparks Award 2026 with his master’s thesis on an online planning system for autonomous robotic surgery at the University of Heidelberg.

Diverse career opportunities and networking at DMEA sparks

Beyond the award, DMEA sparks offers numerous opportunities to connect with potential employers and other emerging professionals. At the inaugural DMEA in Munich, the sparks networking area in Hall C3 will serve as a meeting place for young professionals from various disciplines as well as emerging organizations from the digital health community. The focus is on personal interaction with companies and industry representatives. Concrete support for career entry and career planning is provided, among other things, through individual application coaching and the DMEA Job Wall, which will feature more than 150 current job openings and career opportunities in the health IT industry. The program is complemented by a stage program featuring expert presentations, panel discussions, and pitches.

More information about DMEA sparks

Information on how to apply and the process for the DMEA sparks Awards