1. Home
2. Science
3. Ircad 2025: Beirut Leading the Charge in Medico-Surgical Innovation in the Middle East

From March 26, 2025, Beirut becomes the nerve center of medico-surgical innovation with the Ircad conference, a major event dedicated to advances in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. A key moment for Lebanon, which confirms its role as a regional leader in these cutting-edge fields.

From March 26 to 29, 2025, Beirut will host the Ircad conference, a leading scientific event focused on the latest advances in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. This edition will place particular emphasis on robot-assisted urological surgery, an expanding field where artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing surgical practices. This event will be held in the Levant, under the patronage of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Ircad Is Celebrating Its 31^st Anniversary!

Founded in 1994 in Strasbourg by Professor Jacques Marescaux, Ircad established itself as a center of excellence in minimally invasive surgery. Its influence now extends through an international network of mirror centers in France, Brazil, Taiwan, China, Rwanda, India and, of course, Lebanon. In 2001, the institute made history with the Lindbergh operation, the first tele-surgery performed remotely between New York and Strasbourg. Since then, robotic surgery and AI have transformed the surgical procedure, bringing more precision, safety and accessibility to care.

Regarding Ircad’s presence in Lebanon, Dr. Antoine Maalouf, Director of the French University Hospital of the Levant, explains to This is Beirut, “When Professor Marescaux chose Lebanon to establish Ircad, it was primarily for the effectiveness of the Lebanese medical system, which, despite the challenges, has always proven to be efficient and welcoming for innovation.”

A few hours before the launch of this exceptional event, Dr. Antoine Maalouf is working around the clock, “I have to take care of all the small details, the program presentations, ensuring everything is ready for the D-day. I barely sleep anymore!”

Robotics in the Service of Urology: A Major Turning Point

The 2025 edition of the conference will highlight the progress of robot-assisted urological surgery, where technology improves the precision of procedures and reduces complications. Among the live demonstrations are robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, robotic partial nephrectomy, as well as cystectomy and bladder reconstruction for complex cases.

Dr. Maalouf also emphasizes, “In a complex geopolitical context, Lebanon has been able to leverage its human resources and medical expertise to become a key player in surgical innovation, a role that Ircad is proud to occupy.”

In addition to these interventions, sessions will be dedicated to new generations of surgical robots, the role of robotic surgery in managing complications and future prospects, including telesurgery and enhancing the surgeon's capabilities through AI.

Lebanon, a Regional Hub of Excellence in Robotic Surgery

Since its establishment in Beirut in 2019, Ircad Lebanon has become an essential training center. Dr. Maalouf notes, “It was not the search for external funding that led to Ircad's arrival in Lebanon, but rather the commitment to a vision of quality and performance in an already robust medical environment, as demonstrated by our collaboration with world-renowned institutions.”

In a few days, the Ircad-Lebanon Academy will be officially inaugurated, positioning Lebanon as the center of robotic surgery in the Levant. This one-of-a-kind center in the region houses cutting-edge technology, notably the “Da Vinci” surgical robot, enabling more precise, less invasive interventions with faster recovery times. This center aims to be a springboard to train surgeons in the Middle East, particularly through the integration of global expertise from the Ircad network.

A Conference Focused on the Future

The 2025 edition of Ircad Lebanon is not only exploring technological advances, but also laying the foundations for the surgeries of tomorrow. By integrating robotics, AI and new surgical strategies, it paves the way for more precise, safer and accessible medicine. Dr. Maalouf concludes, “Despite political and economic turbulence, Lebanon continues to shine as a beacon for robotic surgery in the Middle East, playing a catalytic role in training the surgeons of the future.”

Beirut, a historical capital of medical knowledge, thus establishes itself as a center of excellence in training the surgeons of tomorrow. With Ircad, robot-assisted urological surgery enters a new era, and Beirut is its laboratory.