Where AI Meets Clinical Need: Insights from Digital Health Expert Ariel Stern
Ariel Stern on the future of digital health, AI’s real clinical impact, and why Berlin and bio:cap are shaping Europe’s next wave of innovation.
In preparation for bio:cap, we spoke with Ariel Stern, Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Digital Health, Economics and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute. In the interview, she shared her perspective on where digital health is headed and why now is a pivotal moment for innovation.
Stern sees the greatest potential “where AI meets real clinical need,” highlighting technologies such as federated data networks that enable privacy-preserving analytics at scale, and tools that allow for highly personalised treatments. “These are the things I’m excited about,” she noted.
Looking at why now is the moment for an event like bio:cap, Stern explained: “Our AI capabilities, biotechnology breakthroughs, and capital markets are aligning. An event like bio:cap helps build partnerships that turn these wonderful ideas into things patients see and all of us benefit from.”
Ariel Stern, Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Digital Health, Economics and Policy at the Hasso Plattner Institute.
Discussing how bio:cap can connect start-ups and investors, she emphasised the value of bringing people together with a shared purpose: “Bio:cap creates an environment where entrepreneurs, researchers and funders can engage right off the bat. A tremendous amount of value comes from being in the same place with people who understand both the science and the market.”
Why Berlin Is a Hotspot for AI and Digital Health
For her, Berlin offers the perfect environment for digital health and AI: “The Berlin area combines world-class research institutions with a growing start-up scene and an international talent pool… the perfect ingredients for transformative innovation, for bringing ideas out of the lab to the bedside.”
bio:cap, she adds, strengthens Berlin’s role even further: “Berlin already draws talent and ideas from across Europe. Bio:cap adds a focused platform to bring international perspectives and capital into an already vibrant ecosystem.”
Connecting People to Advance Science and Innovation
Networking, in Stern’s view, goes far beyond business development: “It’s essential for breakthrough research. It’s about interdisciplinary connections—understanding what others are doing, which methods they use, where they publish. These are things that are hard to learn without human interaction.”
When asked who she’s most excited to meet at bio:cap, her answer was immediate: “Start-ups. I love hearing from new companies doing technologically meaningful things who are motivated to change the world.”
On why life sciences and AI are a perfect match, she explained: “Life sciences generate vast and sometimes unstructured datasets, and AI is about making sense of them—connecting dots humans might not see. Better algorithms translate into meaningful advances in therapies and healthcare.”
The AI trend she finds most fascinating right now? “Generative and foundation models that learn across multiple data types… We have a massive opportunity to build on past learnings and answer new questions, making advances from precision care to R&D.”
The full videocast is available here.