From AI diagnostics to exoskeletons, the event highlights how healthcare tech is moving into real-world use
Updated
April 8, 2026 10:43 AM
Tesla Bot Optimus, designed by Tesla. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
The China International Medical Equipment Fair 2026 will open in Shanghai from April 9 to 12 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. It is one of the largest gatherings in the medical device industry. This year’s edition will cover more than 320,000 square metres. Nearly 5,000 companies and brands are expected to participate, representing over 20 countries and regions. Organisers also expect more than 200,000 professional visitors and buyers from around 150 markets.
A key focus this year is the growing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. One of the headline technologies is an AI agent designed to carry out multiple diagnoses from a single scan. The exhibition will also feature diagnostic software that is already in clinical use. In addition, an integrated platform for AI training and inference will be showcased to improve computing capacity within healthcare institutions.
Robotics will also play a central role at the event. New systems across surgical procedures, rehabilitation and elderly care are expected to be presented. Together, these developments point to a steady move toward more precise and assisted forms of care. Many of these technologies are designed to support clinicians and patients, especially in tasks that require consistent accuracy or long-term physical assistance.
For the first time, the event will introduce a dedicated Future Tech Arena. It will focus on brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence and university-led innovation. The space will include AI-assisted MRI systems for Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It will also feature brain-computer interface technologies used for cognitive assessment and training, along with wearable robotic exoskeletons.
Alongside product showcases, the event will continue to act as a platform for international trade and collaboration. An International Zone will host exhibitors from countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. This provides a view of how different markets are approaching medical technology. It also reflects the global nature of innovation and deployment in this sector.
The programme will include a set of networking and exchange formats under its “We” initiative. These include discussion stages with representatives from consulates and industry organisations, as well as matchmaking sessions based on verified buyer demand. Guided tours will also be organised to help international visitors connect with relevant exhibitors. In parallel, organisers are working with hospital partners to provide medical support services for attendees during the event.
Across the four days, hundreds of forums are scheduled. These will bring together policymakers, researchers and industry leaders to discuss regulatory frameworks, market access and the future of healthcare innovation. Some of these sessions will be led by the Global Harmonization Working Party in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Malaysia, with a focus on regulatory alignment and cross-border cooperation in medical devices.
As healthcare systems continue to adopt digital tools and advanced equipment, events like CMEF provide a clear view of how these technologies are being developed and applied. The scale of participation this year reflects continued activity across both innovation and international collaboration in the medical device sector.
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Why investors are backing Applied Brain Research’s on-device voice AI approach.
Updated
January 28, 2026 5:53 PM
Plastic model of a human's brain. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Applied Brain Research (ABR), a Canada-based startup, has closed its seed funding round to advance its work in “on-device voice AI”. The round was led by Two Small Fish Ventures, with its general partner Eva Lau joining ABR’s board, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s technical direction and market focus.
The round was oversubscribed, meaning more investors wanted to participate than the company had planned for. That response reflects growing interest in technologies that reduce reliance on cloud-based AI systems.
ABR is focused on a clear problem in voice-enabled products today. Most voice features depend on cloud servers to process speech, which can cause delays, increase costs, raise privacy concerns and limit performance on devices with small batteries or limited computing power.
ABR’s approach is built around keeping voice AI fully on-device. Instead of relying on cloud connectivity, its technology allows devices to process speech locally, enabling faster responses and more predictable performance while reducing data exposure.
Central to this approach is the company’s TSP1 chip, a processor designed specifically for handling time-based data such as speech. Built for real-time voice processing at the edge, TSP1 allows tasks like speech recognition and text-to-speech to run on smaller, power-constrained devices.
This specialization is particularly relevant as voice interfaces become more common across emerging products. Many edge devices such as wearables or mobile robotics cannot support traditional voice AI systems without compromising battery life or responsiveness. The TSP1 addresses this limitation by enabling these capabilities at significantly lower power levels than conventional alternatives. According to the company, full speech-to-text and text-to-speech can run at under 30 milliwatts of power, which is roughly 10 to 100 times lower than many existing alternatives. This level of efficiency makes advanced voice interaction feasible on devices where power consumption has long been a limiting factor.
That efficiency makes the technology applicable across a wide range of use cases. In augmented reality glasses, it supports responsive, hands-free voice control. In robotics, it enables real-time voice interaction without cloud latency or ongoing service costs. For wearables, it expands voice functionality without severely impacting battery life. In medical devices, it allows on-device inference while keeping sensitive data local. And in automotive systems, it enables consistent voice experiences regardless of network availability.
For investors, this combination of timing and technology is what stands out. Voice interfaces are becoming more common, while reliance on cloud infrastructure is increasingly seen as a limitation rather than a strength. ABR sits at the intersection of those two shifts.
With fresh funding in place, ABR is now working with partners across AR, robotics, healthcare, automotive and wearables to bring that future closer. For startup watchers, it’s a reminder that some of the most meaningful AI advances aren’t about bigger models but about making intelligence fit where it actually needs to live.