Wednesday, September 24, 2025

“Getting Better Faster”: Politics, Science and Industry Debate Digitalization, Bureaucracy Reduction and Investments at the Day of Innovative Healthcare Economy 2025

At the “Day of Innovative Healthcare Economy 2025”, the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) brought together representatives from politics, science, and industry in Berlin to discuss central questions about the future. Around 320 guests gathered at the historic Telegraphenamt to talk about cutting red tape, driving digitalization, harnessing artificial intelligence, and attracting high-tech investments.

Prof. Dr. Luise Hölscher, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Administrative Modernization, emphasized: the goal must be “a simple, fast, and digital Germany.” She announced a modernization initiative and stressed that data protection must not block medical innovation.

Tino Sorge, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, underlined the importance of the research-based pharmaceutical industry: “Pharma is a leading industry for Germany. We need an opportunity-driven debate.”

Han Steutel, President of the vfa, stated in his opening speech: “Speed is becoming a location factor that decides on growth and jobs.” He demanded that inefficiencies must be avoided and that digitalization should play a stronger role: “If we succeed in making government structures more agile, we will not only increase efficiency – but also trust in a functioning state.”

The vfa represents 50 leading pharmaceutical companies with around 90 subsidiaries and affiliates in Germany. Together, they employ about 100,000 people in the country, including 20,000 in research and development.

The next Day of Innovative Healthcare Economy will take place on May 21, 2026, in Berlin.