SIM Talks: voices of the simulation industry at SESAM 2026

In this article you can find SIMZINE’s exclusive video interviews from SESAM 2026, Europe’s leading medical simulation conference, held in Lyon. The dominant theme is artificial intelligence applied to clinical training, from automatic analysis of simulation sessions to assessment of learning objectives, through to increasingly realistic patient avatars. Hardware innovation also takes center stage, with new simulators for critical care and robotic surgery procedures.
Interviewed by Jake Rahman are several well-established names in medical simulation alongside a few interesting new entries in the field, each showcasing their latest product developments. The overall picture reflects an industry in strong transformation, marked by product debuts, international partnerships, and an eye already on the upcoming trade events of 2026-2027.

A SIMZINE exclusive based on SESAM 2026 interviews with Jake Rahman

At SESAM 2026, Jake Rahman meets Xuetao Zhang from Gene Vision, a medical simulation company based in Tokyo, Japan. Their digital twin series includes AR/VR-enabled Baby CPR and difficult airway management trainers, letting users see internal organs in real time during procedures like CPR, Heimlich, and intubation. Their second line is a wearable simulation t-shirt system an affordable alternative for clients with limited budgets covering auscultation, ultrasound, percussion, and temperature, paired with a companion app for clinical reasoning training using real case scenarios. Overall, Gene Vision’s goal is building an ecosystem that bridges high-fidelity simulation with low-cost solutions.

At the end of day two at SESAM 2026 in Lyon, Jake Rahman catches up with Mike from Innov2Learn, longtime friends of 10 years. The big news is the Euro Kit, bringing three simulation devices to the European market in one bundle: a simulated glucometer, pulse oximeter, and ear thermometer, usable with standardized patients and mannequins across fidelity levels all at nearly the price of one. The goal is to remove barriers so more institutions can access realistic simulation tools without missing key pieces of the training “puzzle.” Innov2Learn’s products are available through a wide distributor network, including Simulation Collective, Life Support Distribution, Skills Meducation, and SimEdu, with more details on their website.

Jake Rahman interviews Andreas from SIMSTATION at SESAM 2026 in Lyon. The big news is all about AI: new automatic transcriptions with speaker recognition and sentiment analysis (catching negative emotions even when the words sound positive), plus AI patient monitor detection and an integration with PCS AI. Collected data will be analyzed to generate deeper insights over time. Next stop: Vienna in August for AMEE, with a full live demo of simulation, ASCII, and PCS AI integration.

At SESAM 2026, Medical Simulator from Spain exhibits for the first time with their new in-house line, Hybrids a big step for a company more traditionally known for distributing brands like Elevate. Guillermo Closas introduces two focus areas: clinical simulation for extreme scenarios like ECMO therapy, and the surgical Winco line covering laparoscopy and ultrasound-guided procedures. Product manager Daniel Lechuga Morente then breaks down their flagship Hybrids VITA the market’s leading ECMO simulator explaining how it trains multidisciplinary teams to manage critical ECMO patients through a full training ecosystem, both virtual and on-site. The focus isn’t just technical skill, but clinical decision-making that can directly improve patient outcomes.

Elevate Healthcare at SESAM 2026 in Lyon. Highlights include the evo mannequin, evoAURA (an auscultation wearable for standardized patients), and Vimedix XR, their ultrasound simulator now enhanced with augmented and mixed reality. Also featured is Ehli, their new AI that automates learning-objective assessment using simulation transcripts, validated through case studies with several US universities and providing a confidence level for its results. Next up: SimOps, ASPIH in the UK, IMSHalready in the works for next year

At SESAM 2026 in Lyon, Jake Rahman catches up with Karolina Lipinska from LAPARO, presenting their multi-platform robotic surgery simulator for the second time. Unlike console-specific systems, it’s designed to train robotic surgeons across different robot brands. The software is complete, while the hardware is still being refined with input from clinician collaborators, with a final version expected by year-end and market launch set for early next year. Development is closely validated with robotic surgeons across specialties, and LAPARO is actively welcoming new institutional partners especially internationally for testing and feedback. Based in Wrocław, Poland, they’re happy to provide development versions to interested collaborators.

At SESAM 2026 in Lyon, Jake Rahman sits down with Lee Johnson from NASCO for their first-ever meeting after decades in the industry. NASCO is doubling down on AI and VR solutions, alongside a growing line of anatomical models launched over the past year. Coming soon: a new Crisis mannequin an upgrade to a long-standing product supporting procedures like intramuscular and intraosseous access and needle decompression plus a new trauma product. Manufacturing out of New York and Mexico, NASCO exhibits at around 25 conferences a year. Next stops: AMEE in Europe and the show in New Orleans this September

At SESAM 2026 in Lyon, Jake Rahman gets a walkthrough of Anatomage’s new AI-based product, the Anatomage Theater, with Carlos Martinez. It’s a fully immersive setup where trainees interact with realistic AI-driven patient avatars, taking histories, running real diagnostic tests like CT scans, and consulting AI-generated doctor feedback all in multiple languages. Clinical accuracy is doctor peer-reviewed, though the AI itself requires an internet connection, and the team is actively working on adapting content to local medical guidelines across different countries. The long-term vision is a full virtual hospital where patients can be followed across rooms observation, imaging, surgery for comprehensive training. The first unit is already installed at Manchester Metropolitan University.