We speak with Paula Jurvanen, Managing Director at global events organisation M&I Forums, about the evolving healthcare and life sciences meetings sector, the importance of specialist communities, and how the organisation is shaping the future of compliant, high-value industry events.
GROWING IMPORTANCE OF MICE IN HEALTHCARE
As healthcare and life sciences continue to evolve at pace, the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector is playing an increasingly important role in bringing together professionals to exchange knowledge, navigate complex regulations, and accelerate innovation.
From advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology (BioTech) to shifting compliance requirements and growing international collaboration, the industry’s rapid transformation is creating demand for more specialised events tailored to the unique needs of healthcare professionals.
Against this backdrop, M&I Healthcare is preparing to launch its first-ever US forum in Dallas, Texas, between 29th August and 1st September 2027, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s expansion and bringing its specialist, community-driven model to one of the world’s largest healthcare and life sciences markets.
Unlike traditional business events, healthcare meetings must balance scientific education, regulatory compliance, and meaningful commercial engagement, requiring organisers to create environments where trusted knowledge-sharing and business development can coexist responsibly.
As the sector becomes increasingly specialised, curated communities, targeted networking, and accredited educational opportunities are becoming essential for delivering lasting value.
We sit down with Paula Jurvanen, Managing Director at M&I Forums, to discuss why healthcare and life sciences has become one of the fastest-growing specialist sectors within the global events industry, the trends shaping how professionals connect and collaborate, and how M&I Healthcare – the specialised life sciences and medical arm of M&I Forums – is supporting the next generation of compliant, community-driven events.
Firstly, why do you think the healthcare and life sciences MICE sector has become one of the fastest-growing and most specialist areas within the global events industry?
Paula Jurvanen, Managing Director (PJ): Healthcare and life sciences is a sector unlike any other within the meetings and events space because it sits at the intersection of science, industry regulation, and human impact.
Every event must balance rigorous compliance requirements with the need to bring people together to share knowledge, collaborate, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
At the same time, innovation within healthcare is accelerating at an incredible pace. Advances in areas such as AI, precision medicine, BioTech, and digital health are transforming the sector, while evolving regulations and changing global healthcare priorities mean professionals need regular opportunities to exchange knowledge and stay up to date.
That combination of rapid innovation, increasing complexity, and strict regulatory oversight means healthcare professionals are looking for specialist events that understand their world rather than generic industry gatherings.
It’s why we’ve seen such strong demand for M&I Healthcare and why we believe dedicated communities like this have such an important role to play in the future of the industry.
What do you think 2027 demands from healthcare event professionals as compliance requirements, scientific innovation, and international collaboration continue to evolve?
PJ: Healthcare event professionals are expected to wear more hats than ever before. They need a strong understanding of compliance and evolving regulations across different markets, while also creating events that facilitate meaningful collaboration, education and business outcomes.
Technology will continue to play an increasingly important role, whether that’s using data to create more personalised event experiences, embracing AI to improve planning and efficiency, or helping delegates access knowledge in more engaging ways. But technology should support human connection, not replace it.
Perhaps most importantly, organisers need to create environments where scientific learning and commercial conversations can coexist responsibly. The most successful healthcare events will be those that combine trusted education, compliance accreditation and carefully curated business connections in a way that delivers genuine value for everyone involved.
How are organisers staying ahead of the curve, and what trends are you seeing in how healthcare and life sciences professionals are connecting, collaborating, and doing business?
PJ: The best organisers are staying close to their communities and working alongside industry advisors, compliance specialists, and healthcare experts to ensure their events continue to reflect the changing needs of the sector.
One trend we’re seeing very clearly is a move away from larger, transactional networking towards smaller, more curated communities where every interaction has greater relevance. Healthcare professionals are incredibly busy, so they’re looking for events that respect their time and deliver high-quality conversations rather than simply high volumes of meetings.
We’re also seeing a growing appetite for practical education. Delegates increasingly want content that they can take back into their organisations immediately, alongside opportunities to share experiences with peers facing similar challenges.
That’s why education has become such an important part of the M&I Healthcare experience, developed in partnership with specialists including 3Sixty and supported by accredited learning opportunities from partners in Europe such as Healthcare Venues and, for the US, MPI.
Why is North America the natural next step for M&I Healthcare, and what opportunities does the region present for the forum’s future growth?
PJ: North America was the natural next step because it’s home to one of the world’s largest and most innovative healthcare and life sciences sectors. It brings together leading pharmaceutical companies, BioTech organisations, research institutions, healthcare providers and world-class meeting infrastructure, creating an environment where collaboration is essential.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen growing demand from both buyers and suppliers for a dedicated M&I Healthcare event in North America. Our European forums have demonstrated the value of bringing this specialist community together through carefully curated meetings, industry-leading education and meaningful networking, and we’re excited to introduce that same model to a new audience.
Dallas is an ideal launch destination because of its strength as both a healthcare hub and a major meetings destination, providing the perfect platform for the next phase of M&I Healthcare’s growth.
How will M&I Healthcare’s first US forum in Dallas help connect the healthcare and life sciences community, and what can delegates expect from the experience?
PJ: Our focus has always been on quality rather than quantity, and Dallas will be no different.
Delegates can expect highly relevant, pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with organisations that genuinely match their business objectives, alongside specialist educational sessions designed specifically for the healthcare meetings community. Every aspect of the programme has been created with the unique requirements of healthcare and life sciences professionals in mind.
What makes M&I Healthcare different is that it isn’t simply a meetings event with a healthcare label attached. It’s a forum built specifically for this sector, where everyone in the room understands the importance of compliance, regulation and responsible engagement.
Alongside the business meetings, delegates will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers, learn from recognised industry experts and build long-term relationships that continue well beyond the event itself. That’s ultimately what M&I Healthcare is about – creating a trusted community that supports both professional development and business growth.
Looking ahead, what does the future hold for M&I Healthcare, and how do you plan to continue supporting the growth of the global healthcare meetings industry?
PJ: We’re incredibly excited about the future.
Our ambition is to continue building M&I Healthcare as a year-round global community rather than simply a series of annual events. That means continuing to invest in specialist education, strengthening partnerships with leading industry organisations and creating more opportunities for meaningful collaboration throughout the year.
We’re also seeing increasing demand for more focused, high-value conversations. As the healthcare meetings sector becomes more specialised, we’ll continue refining our matchmaking, educational content and community-building to ensure every connection is relevant and every event delivers measurable value.
The launch of Dallas alongside our continued investment in Europe through Milan marks an important milestone, but it’s only the beginning. Our goal is to continue supporting healthcare and life sciences event professionals with forums that combine compliant business meetings, practical learning and lasting relationships, helping the global healthcare meetings community connect, collaborate and grow together
This article was produced by the editorial team at North America Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
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