Bringing Digital Innovation from Lab to Life in Cardiology BIOTRONIK, Charité, and the German Heart Center Foundation Announce a First-of-its-Kind Partnership to Bring Digital Solutions from Research to Patients
BIOTRONIK, die Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the German Heart Center Foundation today announced a research and innovation partnership focused on advancing digital and translational cardiology. The collaboration will bring together world-class clinical cardiovascular expertise at Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC) with BIOTRONIK’s strength in active cardiac devices, artificial intelligence, and connected health technologies.
The partnership builds on existing projects in cardiovascular healthcare, including publicly funded initiatives. The cooperation framework will span from early-stage ideation to joint development and contract research. Initial projects will focus on developing AI‑driven tools and advanced simulation environments to improve device-based therapies. This helps advance cardiac implants and digital treatment approaches. In addition, training and education opportunities will empower the next generation of cardiovascular specialists.
Digital Cardiovascular Care
“The future of cardiovascular care is digital, connected, and predictive,” said Dr. Volker Lang, Senior Vice President Research & Development, BIOTRONIK. “By integrating advanced AI, telemonitoring, and implantable technologies with clinical research, we are transforming heart care and enabling better outcomes for patients worldwide.”
“This strategic partnership demonstrates how academic medicine and industry research can work together to pave the way for data-driven cardiology,” emphasized Prof. Heyo K. Kroemer, Chairman of the Board of Charité. “It is particularly important to us that this collaboration advances innovation while also training the next generation of heart specialists to meet the challenges of digital medicine.”
Prof. Gerhard Hindricks, Interim Head of the Department Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine at DHZC and Lead Project Manager, added: “New technologies are rapidly transforming the management of cardiac rhythm disorders and heart failure. At DHZC, we pursue technological leadership and drive innovation in all major subspecialties of cardiovascular medicine. This partnership with BIOTRONIK enables us to accelerate the journey from bench to bedside, bringing scientific discoveries more quickly into clinical practice to benefit patients.”
Endowed Professorship for Digital and Translational Cardiology
Beyond the scope of the collaboration, BIOTRONIK and the German Heart Center Foundation are jointly supporting the establishment and funding of an endowed professorship for Digital and Translational Cardiology at Charité. The appointment process is already underway. The professorship will operate with academic independence and focus on developing digital innovations in electrophysiology and heart failure.
“By attracting internationally experienced researchers from the field of digital cardiology and related disciplines, the initiative aims to accelerate innovation and help shape the future of cardiovascular care worldwide,” said Andreas Portmann, Managing Director of the Foundation. “The combination of clinical excellence and technological innovation strengthens Berlin’s position as a leading hub for cardiovascular research and serves as a key driver of Europe’s leadership in medical technology.”
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Media Contacts
Antonia Hasenstab
BIOTRONIK Press Office
press@biotronik.com
+49 30 68905 1478
Markus Heggen
Leiter Geschäftsbereich Medien & Politik | Unternehmenssprecher Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
presse@charite.de
+49 30 450 570 400
About BIOTRONIK
For over 60 years, BIOTRONIK has stood at the forefront of medical technology, pioneering breakthrough innovations that are transforming the lives of millions affected by heart disease and chronic pain. Rooted in a deep purpose to seamlessly harmonize technology with the human body, we engineer trusted, life-changing therapies through our advanced active implants in Cardiac Rhythm Management, Monitoring, and Neuromodulation, while providing cutting-edge solutions in Electrophysiology. From creating Germany’s first pacemaker in 1963 to breaking new ground in digital technologies and Conduction System Pacing today, BIOTRONIK is continuously raising the bar for quality, performance, and innovation. Headquartered in Berlin, our global reach spans over 100 countries across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia—bringing bold, future-ready solutions that are shaping the next generation of medical technology.
About Charité
With more than 100 clinics and institutes on four campuses and 3,293 beds. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin ranks as one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. As an institution of cutting-edge medicine, Charité is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of particularly severe, complex, and rare diseases. Enjoying a high reputation worldwide and, as a medical faculty and university hospital, Charité combines first-class patient care with excellent research and innovation, as well as modern teaching and high-quality training. The focus is always on people and their health. In the spirit of translational research, scientific findings in prevention, diagnostics, and therapy are transferred, and new research approaches are developed from clinical observations. Charité's goal is to actively shape the medicine of the future for the benefit of patients.
About German Heart Center Foundation
The German Heart Center Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to advancing cardiovascular health. In a public–private partnership with Charité, it jointly runs Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), one of the world’s leading academic heart centers. Through targeted strategic funding initiatives, the foundation supports innovative patient care, translational research and scientific excellence, while fostering outstanding training and education — all for the lasting benefit of patients.
