Agenda for Day 1 - Monday 9 November, 2026Monday, 9 November 2026

Location: Regulatory Strategy

Interactive Workshop

For a company at early or later-stage development considering commercialisation, few decisions carry more lasting impact than how to enter the market: partnering or licensing with an established regional player, building a commercial organization and launching independently, or some combination of the two.

Each path changes the value the company ultimately captures, the capital it must commit, the risk it absorbs, and the organization it becomes.

This panel brings together senior biopharma leaders who chose differing strategic pathways across regions. They will share why each company took the route it did, how the alternatives were weighed against value creation, strategic feasibility, and financial constraints, and how each arrived at the right go-to-market strategy for the region.

Panelists will speak candidly about the lessons they learned, their key success factors, and the things they might have done differently alongside key considerations for companies at an early stage of decisioning.

Location: Biomanufacturing Strategy

Interactive Workshop

Led by industry experts, this workshop session provide an engaging, hands-on experience designed to deepen your expertise, tackle real-world challenges, and exchange ideas with peers. Through practical exercises, collaborative discussion, and expert guidance, you’ll gain actionable insights, innovative solutions, and tools you can put into practice to drive meaningful results.

Location: Industry Voices

Interactive Workshop

This panel will explore what truly drives success in Business Development and how aspiring BD professionals can build a rewarding and impactful career. Drawing on the experiences of seasoned dealmakers from both the buy-side and sell-side, the discussion will go beyond traditional career advice to examine the skills, experiences, relationships, and mindsets that matter most. From developing scientific, financial, and transactional expertise to building influence, credibility, and a strong professional network, panelists will share practical lessons learned throughout their careers. Attendees will gain actionable insights into navigating the BD profession, accelerating their development, and understanding what really moves the needle in a highly competitive industry.

Location: Ecosystem Innovation

Interactive Workshop

Led by industry experts, this workshop session provide an engaging, hands-on experience designed to deepen your expertise, tackle real-world challenges, and exchange ideas with peers. Through practical exercises, collaborative discussion, and expert guidance, you’ll gain actionable insights, innovative solutions, and tools you can put into practice to drive meaningful results.

Europe possesses world-class science, but continues to lose talent, capital, and value to more competitive ecosystems abroad. What can be done to change this?

• This panel will bring together senior investors and members of the newly created European Life Sciences Coalition (ELSC), alongside biotech CEOs, around a shared goal: to found, fund, scale and retain Europe’s next generation of Life Sciences champions

• The session will open with a brief introduction to the ELSC and its objectives, followed by a call to action inviting participants to support an Open Letter to European leaders by adding their organisation’s logo

• Panellists will explore how to strengthen European biotech as an integrated ecosystem built around innovation, company creation, and well-functioning capital markets

• Moving beyond a diagnosis of the challenges, the discussion will focus on concrete, data-driven solutions around three objectives: mobilising institutional capital into European Life Sciences; accelerating the regulatory pathway from science to patients; and building deeper, more integrated European public capital markets for growth companies

• The interactive session will examine the full investment “food chain”, from company creation and venture funding through scale-up and public markets, and the policy reforms needed to keep innovation, talent, and capital in Europe, including through the EU Biotech Act

Powered by leading analyst intelligence and data-driven insights, this session offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolving therapeutic landscape. Dive into emerging trends, market dynamics, and investment opportunities across key therapeutic areas, and uncover how shifting R&D pipelines, regulatory changes, scientific breakthroughs, and technological advancements are transforming the biopharma industry. Gain a forward-looking perspective on the most promising therapeutic areas and high-growth investment opportunities, equipping you with the strategic insights needed to navigate 2026 and beyond.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are transforming cancer treatment by delivering targeted therapy with precision, and as clinical data matures, they are attracting significant investment and partnership activity across the oncology landscape. This session examines the latest evidence on efficacy and safety, explores what the data reveals about how ADCs are reshaping treatment strategies across tumour types, and discusses which platforms and targets are capturing attention from investors and partners. With deal flow accelerating and new opportunities emerging, the session provides strategic considerations for evaluating partnerships and investments in this high-value oncology segment.

Oncology remains the largest and most competitive area of biotech innovation, but the path to success is becoming increasingly complex. Emerging modalities such as radioligand therapies, next-generation immunotherapies, cell therapies and precision-targeted approaches are generating significant excitement, yet investors and pharmaceutical companies are becoming more selective in how they evaluate risk, differentiation and commercial potential.

This panel brings together biotech innovators, pharma leaders and investors to discuss which oncology platforms are attracting the strongest scientific, partnering and investment interest, what makes a company stand out in a crowded landscape, and how capital, partnerships and clinical strategy can accelerate value creation. The discussion will explore where the next major opportunities in oncology may emerge and what will separate future winners from the rest of the field.

• Are radioligands becoming the next oncology platform?

• Can immunotherapy continue to generate venture-scale returns?

• Is precision medicine becoming too fragmented?

• What separates fundable oncology companies from unfundable?

Cell and gene therapies are redefining treatment possibilities across multiple diseases, and despite market challenges, they continue to command substantial investment and strategic interest. This session provides essential insights into the current landscape, highlights key developments across platforms and indications, and examines what recent clinical and commercial data reveal about the sector's trajectory. With deal dynamics evolving and new modalities emerging, the session explores funding trends, partnership strategies, and what key stakeholders need to know to navigate opportunities in this transformative field.

The traditional boundaries of drug discovery are dissolving. Increasingly, pharmaceutical companies are opening their compound libraries, data, and expertise to the global research community through open innovation platforms. Initiatives such as opnMe from Boehringer Ingelheim are reshaping how early scientific ideas move from academia and biotech into the pharmaceutical pipeline. In this Ecosystem Innovation session at BIO-Europe, leaders from pharma, biotech, and venture capital will explore how open collaboration models are accelerating discovery, de-risking early research, and creating new pathways for partnership. From accessing pharma compounds to co-developing breakthrough therapies, the panel will examine how these platforms are changing the rules of engagement across the life sciences ecosystem. Join this conversation to understand what open innovation means for the next generation of biotech founders, academic innovators, and investors—and how collaboration across sectors is shaping the future of drug discovery.

The Ones to Watch sessions at BIO-Europe spotlight emerging biotech companies, innovative startups, or groundbreaking projects that are poised to make a significant impact in the life sciences industry. These sessions provide a platform for showcasing cutting-edge ideas, novel technologies, and promising business models, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of biotech innovation. They are an excellent opportunity for investors, partners, and industry leaders to discover the next big players in the ecosystem.

If you would like to get involved, please contact partneringsponsorship@informa.com

Despite remarkable advances in biomedical research, many promising discoveries never reach patients. Translating scientific innovation into therapies, diagnostics, and successful ventures remains one of the greatest challenges in healthcare innovation.

This fireside chat brings together Stefanie Dimmeler, spokesperson of the German Centers for Health Research (DZG), and a Heiko Lickert, founder of Viacure GmbH, who has successfully navigated the path from academic discovery to company creation. Together, they will share insights from Germany’s coordinated research model and discuss how collaborative networks can help accelerate translation, foster entrepreneurship, and create opportunities for industry partnership.

Drawing on real-world experiences, the conversation will explore the factors that enable successful translation, the barriers that continue to impede progress, and the lessons learned from building bridges between academia, healthcare, investors, and industry. The speakers will also reflect on how research ecosystems can evolve to better support innovation and deliver tangible impact for patients.

Offering both strategic and entrepreneurial perspectives, the session will provide valuable insights for biotech companies, investors, researchers, and partnering professionals interested in turning scientific excellence into real-world healthcare solutions.

Through their EMEA Advance Biotech Grant Program, Merck recognize standout emerging biotech companies and helps them navigate their path to commercialization. Delivered as a dynamic competition, five selected biotech companies will have the opportunity to pitch their breakthroughs to Merck's Grant representatives and the overall BIO-Europe audience.

Around the world, governments, investors, and industry leaders are racing to build the next great biotech hubs. From Boston and Basel to emerging ecosystems across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, success depends on more than funding alone. Talent, infrastructure, translational science, and access to global pharma partners all play critical roles. Following a spotlight on emerging regional innovators, this panel at BIO-Europe brings together ecosystem builders from venture capital and pharma to research institutes and policy leaders to explore what it really takes to build a thriving life sciences cluster. What ingredients attract breakthrough startups? How can regions compete for talent and capital? And how can global collaboration ensure that innovation ecosystems remain connected rather than siloed? Join this discussion to understand how the next generation of biotech hubs will emerge and what it means for investors, startups, and partners worldwide.

Location: Seated Lunch

Led by subject matter experts sharing the latest thinking, Community Conversations, delivered through a dynamic roundtable format, provide a unique opportunity to gain cutting-edge insights while fostering meaningful peer exchanges, sharing best practices, and expanding your professional network.  

Choose between:

Crafting Your Regulatory Strategy to Align with Evolving Regulatory Frameworks 
Regulatory pathways are evolving rapidly, with greater emphasis on early engagement, adaptive approaches and evidence generation across the product lifecycle. Companies that understand how to align regulatory, clinical, manufacturing and commercial strategies early will be better positioned to accelerate development, reduce risk and maximise the value of innovation. Explore how emerging regulatory frameworks are changing the route to approval, how companies can use early scientific advice and collaborative approaches to shape development strategies, and what lessons can be learned from examples of successful regulatory navigation.

Led by: Raun Kupiec, Founder & Principal, R Kupiec Consulting

From Clinical Development to Commercial Success: Integrating Global Market Access into Trial Strategy 
Examine how aligning endpoints with payer needs across diverse markets can enhance trial outcomes. Consider strategies for selecting sites that balance speed, cost, and market positioning while addressing geopolitical risks in global trials. How can organisations build robust infrastructure in emerging markets to ensure seamless integration of global market access into their trial strategies? 

Future-Proofing Your Biomanufacturing Strategy: Integrating Manufacturing From Day One 
Consider how embedding manufacturing considerations early can accelerate commercialisation and challenge traditional downstream approaches. What strategies can organisations adopt to build scalable, competitive therapies right from the start and stay ahead in an evolving biomanufacturing landscape? 

Led by: Dan Stanton, Trade Media Relations Expert, Sartorius and Stuart Tindal, Principal Platform Manager, Sartorius

Commercialisation and Global Launch: How Do You Build a Global Commercial Success?

Commercial success no longer depends on winning the US market alone. As biotech companies increasingly prepare for launches across multiple regions, the companies that succeed globally are those that build commercial strategy early, understand local market dynamics and create the right capabilities beyond their home market. Explore what companies should do differently when preparing for international launches, how early commercial planning should begin, and the common mistakes that can limit success. Examine the strategies that have enabled biotech companies to successfully build global franchises and maximise the value of their innovations worldwide.

Led by: Dave Thomas, Senior Advisor, Venture Valuation

Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in European Biotech 
If this keeps you awake at night and as a founder, entrepreneur, C-suite officer or HR professional – let’s discuss: strategies for building a competitive workforce to lead on a global scale while addressing skill gaps through targeted training initiatives. How can fostering diversity drive innovation, and what approaches can organisations adopt to retain top talent by offering career growth opportunities and workplace flexibility? How can this become part of your success story from start-up to scale up and exit or long-term growth?

Led by: Tony Jones, CEO of One Nucleus and Oliver Schacht, Managing Director, Life Science Nord

New Models for Biotech Partnerships: Adapting to Complexity and Capital Constraints 
How are partnering strategies changing in a world of constrained capital, global competition, and increasing scientific complexity? Discover how early licensing agreements can share risks and accelerate innovation, while co-development models combine resources and expertise. Explore the potential of venture creation to drive new opportunities and examine how pharma-biotech collaborations and academic partnerships can address complex scientific challenges. 

Led by: Linda Pullen, Business Development Consultant, Pullan Consulting 

Executing your Deal: The Power of Alliance Management

Signing your deal is just the start. True value lies in how, and how quickly, partnerships advance your mutual project or product. Let’s discuss key traits of your high-performing collaborations, strategies for alignment, fostering collaboration, planning ahead, managing conflicts…., and explore how Alliance Management adapts to the additional complexity of digital-data-driven collaborations.

Led by: Anthony and Adrien Hörning, Partners, Strategic Transactions Advisory AG

Location: Seated Lunch

The roundtable Community Conversations will repeat in two blocks to allow attendees to move between sessions

Choose between:

Crafting Your Regulatory Strategy to Align with Evolving Regulatory Frameworks 
Regulatory pathways are evolving rapidly, with greater emphasis on early engagement, adaptive approaches and evidence generation across the product lifecycle. Companies that understand how to align regulatory, clinical, manufacturing and commercial strategies early will be better positioned to accelerate development, reduce risk and maximise the value of innovation. Explore how emerging regulatory frameworks are changing the route to approval, how companies can use early scientific advice and collaborative approaches to shape development strategies, and what lessons can be learned from examples of successful regulatory navigation.

Led by: Raun Kupiec, Founder & Principal, R Kupiec Consulting

From Clinical Development to Commercial Success: Integrating Global Market Access into Trial Strategy 
Examine how aligning endpoints with payer needs across diverse markets can enhance trial outcomes. Consider strategies for selecting sites that balance speed, cost, and market positioning while addressing geopolitical risks in global trials. How can organisations build robust infrastructure in emerging markets to ensure seamless integration of global market access into their trial strategies? 

Future-Proofing Your Biomanufacturing Strategy: Integrating Manufacturing From Day One 
Consider how embedding manufacturing considerations early can accelerate commercialisation and challenge traditional downstream approaches. What strategies can organisations adopt to build scalable, competitive therapies right from the start and stay ahead in an evolving biomanufacturing landscape? 

Led by: Dan Stanton, Trade Media Relations Expert, Sartorius and Stuart Tindal, Principal Platform Manager, Sartorius

Commercialisation and Global Launch: How Do You Build a Global Commercial Success?

Commercial success no longer depends on winning the US market alone. As biotech companies increasingly prepare for launches across multiple regions, the companies that succeed globally are those that build commercial strategy early, understand local market dynamics and create the right capabilities beyond their home market. Explore what companies should do differently when preparing for international launches, how early commercial planning should begin, and the common mistakes that can limit success. Examine the strategies that have enabled biotech companies to successfully build global franchises and maximise the value of their innovations worldwide.

Led by: Dave Thomas, Senior Advisor, Venture Valuation

Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in European Biotech 
If this keeps you awake at night and as a founder, entrepreneur, C-suite officer or HR professional – let’s discuss: strategies for building a competitive workforce to lead on a global scale while addressing skill gaps through targeted training initiatives. How can fostering diversity drive innovation, and what approaches can organisations adopt to retain top talent by offering career growth opportunities and workplace flexibility? How can this become part of your success story from start-up to scale up and exit or long-term growth?

Led by: Tony Jones, CEO of One Nucleus and Oliver Schacht, Managing Director, Life Science Nord

New Models for Biotech Partnerships: Adapting to Complexity and Capital Constraints 
How are partnering strategies changing in a world of constrained capital, global competition, and increasing scientific complexity? Discover how early licensing agreements can share risks and accelerate innovation, while co-development models combine resources and expertise. Explore the potential of venture creation to drive new opportunities and examine how pharma-biotech collaborations and academic partnerships can address complex scientific challenges. 

Led by: Linda Pullen, Business Development Consultant, Pullan Consulting 

Executing your Deal: The Power of Alliance Management

Signing your deal is just the start. True value lies in how, and how quickly, partnerships advance your mutual project or product. Let’s discuss key traits of your high-performing collaborations, strategies for alignment, fostering collaboration, planning ahead, managing conflicts…., and explore how Alliance Management adapts to the additional complexity of digital-data-driven collaborations.

Led by: Anthony and Adrien Hörning, Partners, Strategic Transactions Advisory AG