MEMRO 2025 in Leuven: advancing hearing science in a city that resonates.
MEMRO 2025 brought together international experts in middle-ear mechanics for an inspiring four-day conference in the historic heart of Leuven. The event combined high-level science with accessibility, inclusivity, and a strong local connection. With heritage venues, a walkable setting, and sustainable values at its core, Leuven proved to be the ideal stage for this meeting.
From July 17 to 21, 2025, the historic halls of KU Leuven hosted MEMRO 2025 – the International Middle-Ear Mechanics in Research and Otology Conference. This biennial event brought together researchers, clinicians, and engineers from around the world to share breakthroughs in middle-ear mechanics, implantable hearing devices, and surgical innovations.
The local hosts, prof. Nicolas Verhaert (President of MEMRO, prof. at Faculty of Medicine KU Leuven, head of the Research Group Experimental Oto-rhino-laryngology) and dr. Tristan Putzeys (Postdoctoral Researcher at KU Leuven (ExpORL)), and their team were selected to organise the 2025 edition after presenting a compelling bid at the previous meeting in Boulder, Colorado.
“Leuven was chosen not just because it’s our home base, but because it offers a unique mix of affordability, scientific excellence, and sustainability.”
- Dr. Tristan Putzeys
Several key factors made Leuven the ideal host city:
- A host team with strong academic and clinical expertise
- Close connections to local hospitals and industry partners
- Affordability that allowed wide participation, including young researchers
- A compact, walkable city with a strong commitment to sustainability
Inclusivity was also a priority.
Additional audio equipment was provided to support participants with hearing impairments, making sessions more accessible to all. Despite being a mid-size conference of around 200 participants, MEMRO 2025 secured strong industry support and funding from FWO Vlaanderen, which helped keep registration costs low and supported the participation of early-career researchers.
Leuven is a city that not only talks about sustainability—it lives it. That’s something delegates noticed and valued.
- prof. Verhaert
MEMRO 2025 was not only a platform for scientific exchange, but also an opportunity to engage with Leuven as a university city.
The sessions were held in the University Halls, a building that reflects KU Leuven’s long academic tradition. The conference dinner took place at De Hoorn, a former industrial site where the first Stella Artois was brewed. Today, the site serves as a public venue — a place where Leuven’s industrial past and present-day community life come together.
The social programme included a guided walk through the city, offering participants a sense of Leuven’s historical background and present-day character. Attendees appreciated the rich cultural context and welcoming environment. Many shared photos on LinkedIn, creating lasting impressions of both the event and the city.
The organisers reflect proudly on the outcome: a scientifically rich, well-attended, and logistically smooth conference with a distinctive modern identity.
We’re not planning another conference right away, but we’d gladly work with Leuven Convention Bureau again when the time comes.
