DUSSELDORF, Germany, November 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The registration figures for MEDICA 2010, World Forum for Medicine -International Trade Fair and Congress (Dusseldorf, 17th - 20th November) has led to optimism in the medical-technical sector. The number of participants who have signed up for the world's largest medical trade fair, which will take place next week, is significantly higher than last year's, at around 4,4000 exhibitors from over 60 nations and a booking increase of 2,000 square metres to a total of 116,000 square metres. 

The medical technology markets in North America and Europe have suffered from low demand in recent times. However, exports are picking up again, particularly in the German industry, and many companies are using MEDICA to increase their number of contacts. MEDICA has once again proven to be an excellent platform for transcontinental business and a global hub, explains Horst Giesen, Project Manager of the trade fair in Düsseldorf.

After Germany, the highest numbers of bookings for exhibition space at MEDICA 2010 were from Italy, China, Great Britain, the USA and France. The number of regular exhibitors from within the country and abroad is consistently high. These include innovation leaders such as Siemens, Getinge-MAQUET, MMM Group, Karl Storz und Systema, who have been absent in recent years.

The thematic focus points of MEDICA 2010 are: electrical medicine/medical technology, laboratory technology/ diagnostics, physiotherapy/ orthopaedic technology, medical products (commodities and consumable articles), information and communication technology, medical furniture and social arrangements.

The trade fair also includes established events such as the MEDICA MEDIA FORUM (telemedicine, medical IT, Hall 15), MEDICA VISION (research establishments' innovation forum, Hall 3) and MEDICA PHYSIO (physiotherapy forum, Hall 4).

The MEDICA TECH FORUM (Hall 11) is a new feature with a presentation programme right at the centre of the trade fair events. The topics here are innovative medical technology and its concrete application in medical practice, such as minimally invasive catheter procedures for the treatment of heart conditions and current developments in the field of endoscopy.

The focus of the MEDICA congress will be presentations on common widespread diseases such as cancer, circulatory diseases, age-related illnesses and courses about further education and training in fields such as sonography, emergency medicine and endoscopy.

CURAC Annual Conference part of MEDICA for the first time

On the 18th and 19th of November, Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Computer- und Roboterassistierte Chirurgie e. V. (German Association for Computer and robot-assisted surgery, CURAC) will hold its ninth annual conference CURAC2010 at the MEDICA Congress. This conference will focus on surgical stimulation, computer-supported interventional radiology, ergonomic optimisation in the operating room, multi-modal operation planning and intra-operative measurement procedure. An additional focus is on the recovery potential through industrial cooperation. The aim of this collaboration with the world's largest trade fair for medical technology is the further development of the interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge between scientists, developers and users in this area, which is still new and particularly innovative.

Another element of MEDICA 2010 is the 33rd German Hospital Day, the main annual event for decision-makers in the field of clinical management.

At the same time as MEDICA 2010, 560 exhibitors will also be taking part in the equally-popular COMPAMED 2010 (17th to 19th November), where they will be presenting new solutions and services in the supplier market for medical production, e.g. micro-system technology, nanotechnology, new materials and packaging and services. The number of exhibitors, the number of participating nations (37) and the space booked (10,300 square meters) signify that this is also a new leading name in the events sector.

MEDICA 2010 and COMPAMED 2010 will once again hire all 19 halls in the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre.

Last year, both events had more than 137,000 visitors. More than 16,000 of these visitors were specifically interested in COMPAMED. 46 percent of the visitors travelled from abroad.

Visitors at MEDICA 2010 will include the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will be coming to Dusseldorf on 17th November with the Federal Minister of Health, Philipp Rösler, and will learn about the innovative power of the medical technology industry in a tour of the exhibition. Beforehand, Rösler will open the German Hospital Day.

 More information is available on the internet under: http://www.medica.de