The European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress in the year 2020, a year dominated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, was the first virtual congress that was ever planned with an innovative and interactive congress programme upfront. It was a large, novel platform for scientific discussion and presentations of cutting-edge innovative developments. This manuscript summarises a selection of the scientific highlights from the “Clinical techniques, imaging and endoscopy” Assembly 14. In addition to presentations on the important role of bronchoscopy, imaging and ultrasound techniques in the field of SARS-CoV-2 infection, novel diagnostic approaches and innovative therapeutic strategies in patients with lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, obstructive airway disorders and infectious diseases were also discussed.