2026 Neurotech Leaders Forum at imec

June 23-24, 2026

Leuven, Belgium  

Tentative Agenda

Day One

08:15–08:45

Introductions and Welcome

James Cavuoto, Editor and Publisher, Neurotech Reports
Paru Deshpande, Ph.D., Vice President, R&D Health Sector, imec
08:45–09:30

State of the European Neurotechnology Industry, 2026

James Cavuoto, Editor and Publisher, Neurotech Reports
Neurotech Business Report Editor James Cavuoto provides his insights and observations on the state of the European neurotechnology industry. He surveys changes in the competitive landscape that have occurred over the years, the most significant events of the last year, and challenges confronting the industry in years ahead.
09:30-10:15

Keynote Address

Thomas Stieglitz, Ph.D., Professor, University of Freiburg
A European neurotechnology pioneer offers his views on future directions in the industry.
10:15–10:45

Coffee Break

10:45–11:30

Neuromodulation Technology Advances

Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Will Pitkin, Senior Director of Business Development and Neuromodulation Strategy, Cirtec Medical
Rob Crawford, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, MST
Omari Bouknight, CEO, Resonant Link Medical
In this session, we'll look at how new technology is changing the competitive landscape in the neuromodulation industry. Panelists will discuss advances in wireless energy delivery, flexible leads, and nanoparticles.
11:30-12:15

Entrepreneur Panel I

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Bert Monna, Ph.D., CTO, Phosphoenix B.V.
Karl Stoklosa, CEO, Precisis GmbH
Michael Pare, CEO, Melora Medical
This session features presentations from CEOs and executives of several neurotechnology start-up firms and more established technology ventures. Each executive will present an overview of their firm's technology and markets.
12:15–13:30

Luncheon

13:30-14:15

FemTech Meets Neurotech: An Underserved Market with Real TAM

JoJo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Daniel Chew, Ph.D., CEO and Co-founder, Artemis Medical
Hubert Martens, Ph.D., CEO, Salvia Bioelectronics
In this session, panelists will discuss new opportunities for neurotech devices in women's health. Among the applications are pelvic pain, endometriosis, and menopause-linked disorders.
14:15-15:00

Neurotechnology at imec

Carolina Mora Lopez, Ph.D., Scientific Director, imec
Imec technology leaders offer an overview of their capabilities and facilities.
15:00-15:30

Refreshment Break

15:30-16:15

BCI Leaders of Europe

JoJo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Fabien Sauter, Ph.D., Project Manager, CEA Clinatec
Luke Bashford, Ph.D., Scientific Director, UK National Centre for Neurotechnology and Neurorestoration
Dan Gnansia, Ph.D., Head of Clinical, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics
JoJo Platt moderates a panel with some of Europe's leading commercial firms pursuing the market for brain-computer interfaces.
16:30-17:30

Lab and Cleanroom Tours

17:30–20:00

Networking Reception

 

 

Day Two

08:30–08:45

Introductions and Welcome

08:45–09:30

Venture Capital Investment: What's Getting Funded?

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Diana Saraceni, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Panakes Partners
Mario Huyghe, Senior Venture Development Manager, imec
Neurotech Business Report Editor James Cavuoto moderates a panel with leading venture capital firms active in Europe that fund neurotechnology ventures. Panelists will discuss factors such capital efficiency, platform narratives, and determining valuations.
09:30-10:15

Regulatory Divergence is Now a Strategy Choice

Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Jacek Eisler, Neuro Market Segment Manager, TUV SUD
Lindsey Jardine, Vice President, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality Affairs, Adraxe
Martin Becker, Neuro Market Segment Manager, cpi
In this session, panelists will discuss important regulatory decisions that neurotech firms must make, including the timing of FDA vs. CE Mark applications, updates on EU MDR policies, and the value of pursuing breakthrough device designation.
10:15–10:45

Coffee Break

10:45–11:30

Neurotech Europe on the World Stage: Strategy, Scale, and Global Integration

JoJo Platt, Senior Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Richard Van Wezel, Ph.D., Coordinator, Neurotech EU
François Véron, General Partner, Newfund
Stephen Hicks, Science and Technology Lead, ARIA
Europe’s neurotechnology sector has reached a critical inflection point. While rich in scientific talent and early innovation, there are still opportunities for growth in scale, capital efficiency, and global market influence. This session brings together leaders from across Europe to examine what’s working, what’s broken, and where Europe risks falling behind. The discussion will focus on levers for growth including regulatory alignment, reimbursement pathways, capital formation, and industry coordination in order to position Europe as a competitive, globally integrated neurotech powerhouse.
11:30-12:15

Entrepreneur Panel II

James Cavuoto, Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Olivier Menage, D. Pharm, CEO, Stimalia
Luca Ravagnan, Ph.D., CEO and Co-founder, WISE
Jane Ollis, CEO, SONA
This session features presentations from CEOs and executives of several neurotechnology start-up firms and more established technology ventures. Each executive will present an overview of their firm's technology and markets.
12:15–13:30

Luncheon

13:30-14:15

Entrepreneur Panel III

Jeremy Koff, Senior Consulting Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
Daniel Barbosa, M.D., CEO, LeoNeuro
Frederik Ceyssens, CEO, ReVision Implant
This session features presentations from CEOs and executives of several neurotechnology start-up firms and more established technology ventures. Each executive will present an overview of their firm's technology and markets.
14:15-15:00

Beyond the Brain: Peripheral, Autonomic, and Systemic Control

Victor Pikov, Contributing Editor, Neurotech Reports, Moderator
In this session, we look at applications of neuromodulation beyond the central nervous system, including therapies for treating systemic and end-organ disorders. Panelists will discuss new closed-loop vagus nerve and pelvic neuromodulation trends and new reimbursement developments.
15:00-15:30

Refreshment Break

15:30-16:15

Advances in Closed Loop Stimulation from imec

In this session, an imec executive will update attendees on their neuromodulation technologies and methods for bi-directional neural interfaces - towards selective and minimally intrusive applications.
Vojkan Mihajlovic, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, imec
16:15-17:15

Closing Remarks