With 6,600 visitors (+20%) and around 250 exhibiting companies (+30%), Pro Care 2026 in Hanover further consolidated its role as the central platform for the care industry. The fully booked trade fair impressively demonstrated how strongly digital and AI-supported solutions are now shaping care practice.

As the Cluster Future of Care, the Care Practice Centre Hannover was represented together with the PPZ Freiburg, the PPZ Berlin and the Care Innovation Centre (PIZ) in Oldenburg on a 105 m² stand. The response was consistently positive: nursing professionals, trainees and other interested parties took the opportunity to engage in intensive discussions, learn about practical innovations and try out the technologies on display.

A particular attraction was the humanoid robot AMECA, presented by the PIZ in Oldenburg. In addition, a digital dental camera, aerosol-assisted cold plasma technology for gentle hand and wound disinfection, a hybrid anti-decubitus mattress, virtual reality applications and an exoskeleton for reducing physical strain on carers also attracted a great deal of interest. Visitors to our stand engaged in lively discussions about the opportunities and challenges of introducing technological innovations into nursing practice, with a particular focus on issues of acceptance and practicality.

The stand also attracted political attention. Dr Andreas Philippi, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equality, visited the stand to find out more about the ‘Cluster Future of Care’ research project and the technologies on display. A lively discussion developed with the ‘Cluster Future of Care’ team about the potential of technological innovations for future care practices. Sat.1 reported on ProCare on regional television in Lower Saxony and showed, among other things, impressions of Dr Philippi’s visit to our stand.

In addition to the technological demonstrations, the focus was primarily on content-related questions: How much science does care need? And how can care science findings be sustainably transferred into care provision? In workshops and discussions, it became clear that a scientific foundation is considered essential – but what is crucial is its practical development and comprehensible communication.

For the Future of Care cluster, Pro Care 2026 was above all one thing: a place for dialogue and transfer. The multitude of discussions, ideas and new contacts impressively demonstrated how important direct exchange is for jointly developing innovations and making nursing practice sustainable for the future.

Brit Rebentisch-Krummhaar (translated)