The 3rd Med-X International Conference was held in Shanghai from July 31 to August 2, 2026. Organized by Med-X Journal and co-organized by the World Association of Chinese Biomedical Engineers, the conference was guided by the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering and the Shanghai Society of Biomedical Engineering. Centered on the integration of artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering, the conference focused on cutting-edge areas including medical devices, medical AI, biomechanics, medical imaging, biophotonics, biomaterials, molecular and cellular engineering, flexible bioelectronics, advanced magnetic resonance diagnosis and therapy technologies, and medical robotics. The program featured 5 plenary lectures, 36 keynote speeches, 63 invited talks, and multiple parallel forum sessions and poster exchanges. With a rich and diverse agenda, the conference attracted over 300 in-person participants. Nearly twenty academicians and fellows from international authoritative academic institutions, along with more than thirty national high-level talents and young scholars, further underscored the Med-X International Conference's vital role as a platform for gathering global innovative talent and promoting the integration of medicine and engineering.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Hongen Liao, an expert in minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy and 3D imaging. He extended a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all guests and read aloud a congratulatory letter from Academician Yazhu Chen, expressing the hope that participants would engage in lively discussion, spark intellectual insights, and explore new pathways for the field. Professor Lingti Kong offered his sincere congratulations on the grand opening and expressed his expectation that attendees would leverage this international academic exchange platform to showcase frontier achievements, chart the course for disciplinary development, and expand new horizons for industrial translation. Mr. Xiaoyuan Feng, Chairman of the Shanghai Society of Biomedical Engineering, emphasized in his speech that the Society would continue to deepen cooperation with universities in research, talent development, and technology translation, and encouraged young researchers to strive for excellence and empower the long-term development of the industry. Mr. Yichong Zhang, Director of the Science Popularization and Science & Technology Communication Division of the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, articulated expectations for collaboration in translation, talent, and ecosystem building, drawing on his work in science outreach and communication. Ms. Yi Peng, Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering, expressed her congratulations while underscoring the importance of coordinated collaboration to support disciplinary advancement and the Healthy China strategy. Professor Xuemin Xu, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Med-X Journal, on behalf of the journal and the conference organizing committee, congratulated the opening of the conference, highlighted the journal's recent notable achievements, and expressed the hope to unite efforts from all sectors, deepen multi-faceted collaboration, and pursue innovative opportunities to advance the biomedical engineering enterprise steadily and far.

The keynote sessions were exceptionally stimulating. Professor Savio L.-Y. Woo, a renowned scholar in international biomechanics, member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Engineering, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh, and Professor Chwee Teck Lim, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the U.K. Royal Society, and professor at the National University of Singapore, delivered talks titled "AI and the Future of Sports Medicine and Bioengineering (AIFX3.2): View from 10,000 Meters" and "Powering Healthcare Intelligence with Wearable Sensing Technologies & AI," respectively. They shared their latest research findings on AI-driven biomedical engineering innovation, the future of sports medicine, and wearable sensing technologies empowering smart healthcare.

During the conference, over a hundred experts and scholars presented their latest research across multiple thematic sessions covering medical devices, medicine and AI, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, biophotonics and biosensors, advanced biomaterials and regenerative medicine, cellular and molecular engineering, flexible bioelectronics, and high-level journal publishing. Within the lecture halls, ideas converged and minds collided; outside, corridor discussions were equally lively—with conversations often extending from a single presentation to a collaborative intention, and from one question to new research directions. The conference not only showcased the latest advances in biomedical engineering but also fostered understanding and consensus among researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds through open exchange, channeling new wisdom and strength into the innovative development of the field.

During the conference, Med-X Journal convened its 2026 editorial board meeting, engaging in in-depth discussions on the journal's development over its first three years, its positioning, expansion of high-quality submissions, rapid review mechanisms, and international promotion. Editorial board members offered numerous constructive suggestions for the journal's next phase, building consensus on enhancing Med-X's academic influence and establishing it as a top-tier international journal in biomedical engineering.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Zhen Gu, Dean of the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Zhejiang University, delivered a plenary talk titled "Intelligent Drug Delivery Cells and Devices," sharing his latest research in intelligent drug delivery and providing a resounding finale to the conference's intellectual exchanges. Subsequently, the conference announced the winners of the Outstanding Poster Award and held an award ceremony. Professor Zhen Gu received the Med-X Best Editor Award, and Associate Professor Jiayu Wan from Shanghai Jiao Tong University received the Med-X Most Cited Paper Award. These honors not only fully recognized outstanding research innovations and academic contributions but also served as encouragement and inspiration for all researchers and academic editors to deepen their expertise and pursue excellence.

The successful convening of this conference facilitated interdisciplinary integration, stimulated diverse and innovative thinking, and built a solid bridge for international cooperation. The Med-X International Conference will continue to uphold its philosophy of openness, cross-disciplinarity, and innovation, building a high-level international academic exchange platform, pooling global innovative wisdom, and promoting the high-quality development of biomedical engineering. We look forward to the next gathering, where we will join old and new friends alike in an academic rendezvous and a shared conversation about an innovative future.