Special Sessions / Mini-Symposia

(60 - 90 minute sessions)

Special sessions consist of talks and/or panel discussions delivered by leading experts on specialised technical, scientific, or non-technical topics. Subjects may include biomedical engineering, clinical applications, medicine, healthcare, education, research funding, entrepreneurship, or technology transfer.

Mini-symposia consist of a series of coordinated talks addressing a focused biomedical engineering topic in depth through invited and peer-selected presentations and interactive discussions. They promote interdisciplinary exchange between engineers, clinicians and industry stakeholders across SABEC’s ten submission tracks, and support critical reflection on current challenges, innovations and future directions in biomedical engineering.

SABEC 2027’s theme is “Biomedical Engineering Without Borders”, spanning ten submission tracks that apply across the whole conference, not only special sessions:

  • Diagnostics, Imaging & Biomedical Signals
  • Biomaterials, Regenerative Medicine & Therapeutics
  • Biomechanics, Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
  • Medical Devices, Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing
  • Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & Digital Health
  • Clinical Engineering and Health Technology Management
  • Appropriate Health Technologies
  • Planetary Health & Sustainable Healthcare Technologies
  • Regulation, Translation & Entrepreneurship
  • BME Education, Ethics and Society


Proposers are welcome to suggest their own topic for a special session or mini-symposium. Suggestions will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee for relevance to these themes and overall merit.

Key guidelines for special sessions / mini-symposia

  • Sessions must include at least 4 speakers, but no more than can reasonably fit within the 90-minute timeframe  (maximum recommended: 6 speakers)
  • All speakers and participants are responsible for their own travel costs
  • Proposals must be submitted via EasyChair, and include:
    • Title of the mini-symposium
    • Summary (max. 200 words) for publication
    • Rationale outlining the novelty, relevance to the global community, and alignment with SABEC’s theme, “Biomedical Engineering Without Borders”
    • Duration and talk length 20mins with 10 mins QnA
    • Contact details of the proposer(s): name, affiliation, postal address, phone number, and email
    • Speaker information: talk title, full name, affiliation, and email
    • Confirmation that all speakers have agreed to participate
    • Confirmation of originality of presentations
    • Confirmation of any required company/governmental clearance (if applicable)

SABEC 2027 · Southern Africa Biomedical Engineering Conference

11–12 March 2027 · Breakwater Lodge, GSB Waterfront Campus, Cape Town

HOSTED BY
CO-HOSTED BY
ENDORSED BY

Questions about SABEC 2027?

For enquiries regarding the Call for Abstracts and Papers:
sabec@uct.ac.za
Subject line: SABEC2027 Call

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