Paris resonated with the pace of French innovation in healthcare. From 19 to 21 January 2026, the third edition of the French Healthcare Business Forum 2026 reached a milestone, bringing together 170 international delegations from 40 countries and nearly 50 French exhibitors. Three intense days where French excellence shone on the global healthcare stage.
The French Healthcare Business Forum (FHBF) is positioned as the benchmark platform for promoting French expertise in the healthcare sector. A natural extension of the mission of the French Healthcare Association, which organises the event, the Forum is its operational and strategic hub.
Its purpose is to establish direct and lasting links between French companies, institutions and international decision-makers in order to promote French healthcare offerings internationally. By facilitating connections between French healthcare solution providers and foreign buyers, investors and decision-makers, the FHBF actively contributes to the development of exports and the strengthening of global healthcare cooperation.
Over the course of three days, French companies, hospital groups and start-ups in the healthcare sector had the opportunity to present their solutions to international decision-makers, including distributors, governments, investors and other key players. These exchanges showcased French expertise and consolidated France’s position as a world leader in the field of healthcare.
Unprecedented international mobilisation
The figures speak for themselves: never before has the FHBF seen such a large turnout. More than 170 international decision-makers made the trip, representing every continent and the most strategic markets. From South Africa to Vietnam, Canada to Kuwait, Brazil, India and the United Arab Emirates, the whole world was there.
This 2026 edition marks a turning point. Health authorities, ministries, embassies, hospitals, research centres, distributors and universities: the entire global healthcare value chain gathered in Paris.
It’s a tremendous recognition of French expertise, says one enthusiastic participant.
An inauguration worthy of the greatest events
This gala evening, actively supported by Guerbet, brought the first day of the Forum at the Hôtel national des Invalides to a perfect close. This historic venue set the tone for three exceptional days.
This prestigious opening evening brought together all the delegations in an iconic setting in the French capital, perfectly symbolising the ambition of the French Healthcare Business Forum.
A dense and structured programme
- The first two days were filled with B2B and B2G meetings, official announcements, signings, conferences, and market workshops.
- The third day was devoted to visits to hospital and industrial sites, including the Gustave Roussy Institute and the Novair Group, allowing for in-depth and fruitful discussions with local teams.
A global healthcare ecosystem mobilised at the French Healthcare Business Forum
The success of FHBF 2026 relies on the exceptional mobilisation of all global health stakeholders. From research to funding, industry to institutions, the entire value chain was represented, creating an environment conducive to strategic exchanges and sustainable partnerships.
An exceptional international presence
This edition brought together more than 170 international decision-makers from over 40 countries, covering strategic markets on every continent: South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, United States, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nigeria, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam.
These delegations represented the entire global healthcare ecosystem: health authorities, ministries, embassies, hospitals, research centres, distributors, manufacturers, universities and CDMOs. This diversity enabled rich exchanges and the creation of strategic synergies at all levels of the value chain.
French excellence on display
In the face of this international mobilisation, France’s offering stood out for its diversity and excellence. The 47 French exhibitors brought together the best of French expertise, from major pharmaceutical groups to innovative start-ups, world-renowned hospitals and cutting-edge equipment manufacturers.
The Forum welcomed: A.I.A Life Designers, AirInSpace, Aquatools, Axomove, Bertin Technologies, Bodet Time, Bouygues Bâtiment International, Business France, C3Medical, Monaco Cardio-Thoracic Centre, Dessintey, Didactic, DMS Imaging, EIHF – Isofroid, Ellipse Group, Foch Hospital, Opale Foundation, Paris Saint-Joseph & Marie Lannelongue Hospitals, GeodAIsics, Ginger, Gustave Roussy, Idetec, Inlog SAS, Institut Curie, La Salle Blanche, Med In Touch, Medecom, NatéoSanté, Novair, Novakamp, Orikio, Perfect Eko, Praticima, Rofim, Sanofi, Servier, Simedys, Sonoscanner, Stephanix, Techno Concept, Technologie Médicale, Tesalys and Toutenkamion.
International funding, the key to success
One of the major highlights of this edition was the presence of major international financial institutions. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) presented their financing mechanisms, transforming commercial opportunities into concrete partnerships.
The French Development Agency (AFD), a key partner in the event, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting French companies in their quest to conquer international markets, creating an essential financial bridge between French innovation and global health needs.
Strategic announcements and highlights from the FHBF
The French Healthcare Business Forum was prepared in close coordination with all institutional and governmental stakeholders, creating a favourable environment for major announcements and signings. These initiatives contribute to the international development of French companies while providing long-term support for the improvement of healthcare systems abroad.
Announcements that will make history
- The AFD Group has officially launched a new financing instrument dedicated to French SMEs and start-ups involved in the international export of healthcare services. This financing tool was developed in close collaboration with the French Healthcare Association as part of a partnership signed in December 2025.
- A cooperation agreement in oncology has been officially signed between the Gustave Roussy Institute, represented by its Director General Professor Fabrice Barlesi, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, represented by His Excellency Asilbek Khudayarov, Uzbek Minister of Health. This agreement provides for the integration of the new Uzbek oncology centre into the institute’s accredited international network, under the name ‘Gustave Roussy International Uzbekistan’, as well as the development of medical exchanges and structured training programmes.
Highlights and international side-events
- Ukraine Healthcare 2026 and Beyond : On the sidelines of the French Healthcare Business Forum 2026, the side event organised in Bercy by the French Healthcare Association illustrated the concrete impact of the FHBF on major international health issues. Against a backdrop of prolonged war and the reconstruction of the Ukrainian healthcare system, speeches by Deputy Minister of Health Edem Adamanov and Director of Rehabilitation for Ukraine (Rehab4U) highlighted the human dimension of healthcare needs and the need for an urgent and appropriate response to Ukraine’s needs, while paving the way for new opportunities for cooperation and funding for 2026.
- Strategic talks at OECD : A side event organised with partners from the French Healthcare Association and Business at OECD brought together decision-makers and experts for in-depth discussions on investment in life sciences, healthcare competitiveness and cross-cutting policy approaches, consolidating the FHBF’s role as a platform for strategic international exchange.
French start-ups in the spotlight at the French Healthcare Business Forum
The first edition of the French Healthcare Startup Awards highlighted the excellence and competitiveness of French startups, which pitched their ideas to an international jury of experts. GeodAIsics, winner of the award, received a one-year membership to the French Healthcare Association and presented its innovative solution for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease to all delegations during the closing ceremony.
The French Healthcare Business Forum was thoroughly prepared in close coordination with all institutional and governmental stakeholders. These conditions were conducive to major announcements and signings, which strengthen the international development of French companies while contributing to the long-term improvement of healthcare systems abroad.
Institutional speeches
Leading figures have praised the strategic importance of the FHBF and the role of the French Healthcare Association in developing international cooperation in healthcare:
- Dr Ahmed El Sobky, President of the Egypt Healthcare Authority
- Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and the Attractiveness of France
- Representatives of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and the French Ministry of Health
Issues at the heart of public health challenges
The early identification of international health priorities has enabled the entire content of the Forum to be structured around several strategic areas:
- The ageing population and its implications for health systems
- Prevention and management of infectious risk in the post-pandemic era
- Innovation in oncology and new therapies
- Artificial intelligence applied to diagnosis and care
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation, a global health priority
- Advanced medical imaging and its applications
- Funding and public-private partnerships to transform innovations into accessible solutions
The conferences and workshops also addressed major issues: the ageing population, infectious risk, innovation in oncology, artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, mobility and patient-centred care, as well as funding and public-private partnerships.
Results that exceed all expectations
Thanks to the dedicated online platform, over 1200 meetings took place, which were prepared in advance, optimising exchanges and multiplying opportunities for collaboration. In the same vein, the French Healthcare Association strengthened bilateral relations with its partners, thereby sustainably reinforcing the influence and network of French healthcare players.
At the same time, conferences and workshops promoted the sharing of expertise and stimulated collective reflection on major issues such as population ageing, infectious risk, innovation in oncology, artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, mobility and patient-centred care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as financing and public-private partnerships. Bringing together foreign representatives and French experts, large panels gave French companies the opportunity to further showcase the latest French advances in these fields, and enabled delegations to identify new opportunities and forge tangible partnerships.
The French Healthcare Business Forum therefore allowed to:
- Facilitate meetings between international decision-makers and key players in the French healthcare sector in order to stimulate and accelerate cooperation.
- Promote long-term collaboration and strategic exchanges.
- Develop access to new international markets.
- Identify current and future healthcare challenges and create synergies to respond to them effectively.
- Generate concrete export opportunities for French companies.
- Promote the global reputation of the French Healthcare brand and French players, highlighting the expertise of Made in France healthcare.
A landmark edition that paves the way
The French Healthcare Business Forum 2026 will go down as a record-breaking edition. Over three days, Paris became the global capital of healthcare innovation, demonstrating that French excellence is not just a slogan but a tangible reality, recognised and sought after by decision-makers from around the world.
Beyond the impressive figures, it is the quality of the exchanges, the diversity of the partnerships forged and the richness of the projects initiated that mark the true success of this edition. The FHBF has definitively established itself as the unmissable event for international healthcare, a unique platform where the collaborations of tomorrow are built.
The French Healthcare Association can be proud: its mission to promote French healthcare expertise on a global scale has never been more successful. The date has already been set for the 2027 edition, which promises to be just as promising.
