World-leading cardiothoracic experts meet in Paris for the EACTS Innovation Summit 2025
First-ever EACTS Innovation Grant awards presented
The 3rd EACTS Innovation Summit hosted international cardiothoracic (CT) experts in Paris from 11 – 12 April to set the CT surgery agenda for the near future by advancing and implementing disruptive innovations.
For two days, surgeons, cardiologists, allied health professionals, engineers, industrialists, biochemists, scientists, health economists and other academics convened to explore, shape and plan the new future of cardiothoracic surgical interventions. Participants exchanged some of the very latest disruptive ideas in cardiothoracic surgery, exploring AI and medical imaging technology, fundamental research in particle physics and its applications in medicine, innovations in robotic cardiac surgery and novel valve technology to name a few. The insightful “How to start a start-up” session provided participants with guidance on launching and growing a successful venture in the healthcare space.
To translate all emerging opportunities into clinical practice for the benefit of patients, EACTS launched the Innovation Hub, the Innovation Committee and dedicated Innovation Grants in 2024. These Grants are intended to support early stage, pump-priming and exploratory research and innovation initiatives. The programme garnered significant interest from the cardiothoracic research community, demonstrating a definitive commitment to advancing the field and improving patient outcomes. EACTS recognises the importance of bolstering innovative projects that have potential life-changing impacts and welcomed the presentations of inaugural recipients of the EACTS Innovation Grant.
Amid many stimulating presentations, the top strategic themes of the Innovation Hub were also discussed:
- The Future of Robotic Surgery
- Heart Valve of the Future
- Extracorporeal circulation (CPB, ECMO, ECLS) and organ replacement
- Artificial Intelligence for CT Surgery
- Perioperative Cellular Protection and Single-and Multi-Organ Repair
- (G)Lymphatics in CT surgery
We are here to change the world. Innovation is important for the EACTS community because we are always looking to collaborate and find better ways to treat our patients. I look forward to learning new approaches to medicine and taking practical next steps.
Friedhelm Beyersdorf, Past EACTS President (2022)
EACTS Innovation Grant Awardees 2025
We are delighted to announce the first EACTS Innovation Grant award winners, who are recognised for their pioneering research in the field of CT surgery. The award winners each shared a comment on the impact of the EACTS Innovation Hub and Grant.
AI-Enhanced Virtual Reality Training for ECMO in Cardiothoracic Surgery, E Mahtab, Leiden
“We have a small and specific group of experts in a beautiful place, exchanging knowledge and that makes this Summit very special and unique.”
Monitoring the Unseen: The Journey of SpectroCor’s Cardiac Sensor, T Pätilä, Helsinki
“It means a lot and it’s a great honour to be acknowledged by EACTS, it’s a great validation for our project.
“The EACTS Innovation Hub is a game changer. It brings together the researchers, scientists, clinicians, start-ups, and industry partners, who can foster great ideas in the real world.”
Evaluation of Mechanical Support and Lymphatic Dysfunction in a Two-Stage Fontan Sheep Model, J Van Puyvelde, Leuven
“Winning the EACTS Innovation Grant is a crucial way to start our research. The Fontan population is a relatively small but very vulnerable patient population, they are often overlooked in larger research opportunities. This gives us the chance to start work to improve clinical practice in the near future.”
A Novel Total Artificial Heart – The ShuttlePump, D Zimpfer, Vienna
“It’s a huge honour for the team and it honours the dedication that the team put into the development of this device over the last four years. The funding will create a lot of momentum and we will be able to validate everything we simulated. It’s a huge catalyst for the entire project.”
Overall, the EACTS Innovation Summit showcased the immense potential of cardiothoracic surgery to harness cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs—including advances in AI, robotics, nanotechnology, quantum technology, and synthetic biology. Clinically relevant examples were presented and discussed, such as robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement and even heart transplantation, the role of AI in shaping future guidelines, and the development of conductive patches using tissue-engineered cells for patients with heart failure, reducing or even avoiding perioperative comorbidities — among many others.
To build on this successful momentum in CT surgery, preparations for the 4th EACTS Innovation Summit — scheduled for spring 2026 — are already underway.
Notes to editors
- Register for the 39th EACTS Annual Meeting, taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark from 8th-11th October 2025 www.eacts.org/39th-eacts-annual-meeting/
- View EACTS’ five year strategy which outlines five strategic goals, including one “to invest in research & innovation”.
For media enquiries, please contact us – [email protected]
About EACTS
The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) is a global membership organisation for the cardiothoracic surgical community. EACTS exists to improve outcomes for patients with heart and lung conditions by supporting the global surgical community with education and learning opportunities and informing best practice with journals, clinical guidelines, a quality improvement programme and research.