BIO-Europe 2026 sets out programme for Cologne biopharma strategy forum
BIO-Europe® will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 9 to 11 November 2026, with more than 6,000 senior leaders from biotech, pharma, investment and strategic organisations across Europe, North America and Asia due to attend. Building on more than three decades of collaboration, the 2026 event is described by its organisers as an expansion beyond partnering into the largest and most important biopharma strategy forum on the continent, run as a highly curated, deal-driven environment in which delegates pursue partnerships, exchange perspectives and align on priorities.
Themes and tracks
The programme extends beyond business development. Integrated themes include Business of Biotech, Therapeutic Insights, Ecosystem Innovation and the plenary series The Big Picture, alongside dedicated tracks on clinical, regulatory and biomanufacturing strategies, and company presentations. The agenda is designed to highlight the latest trends and to bring the perspectives of the people shaping the industry to the fore.
Day one: the future of biotech and deal-making
The forum opens with a plenary fireside chat, The Great Biotech Reset: Who Will Shape the Future of Innovation?, in which Jeremy Levin of Ovid Therapeutics explores whether biotech is evolving or being fundamentally rewritten, and who will shape its next era. Later that day, Unpacking the Deal: Lessons from Recent Biotech Successes brings together Christoph Broja of EQT Life Sciences and Ingo Lehrke of Tubulis for a candid look at deal-making through the lens of recent successes.
Day two: women’s health, late-stage investment and alliances
Day two turns to strategic questions. In Women’s Health: The Greatest Market Failure and Commercial Opportunity in Modern Biopharma, Jessica Federer, MD, of the Women’s Health Fund and Marie Teil of UCB examine the untapped revenue potential in women’s health and the systemic reasons the industry has left it on the table. In Scaling Success: The Dynamics of Late Stage Investment in Biotech, Hubert Birner of TVM Capital and Sander Slootweg of Forbion discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing in companies approaching key milestones, including navigating regulatory hurdles, scaling operations and preparing for IPOs or acquisitions.
The day closes with Resilient by Design: Reinventing Biopharma Alliances in a Fragmenting World. Leaders from WuXi AppTec, Evotec, global pharma and investment will explore how strategic alliances are being redefined amid geopolitical fragmentation and shifting capital dynamics, and what it takes to build resilient, future-proof partnerships without sacrificing efficiency.
Day three: from discovery to company building
On day three, the focus moves to the journey from scientific discovery to company building. In The Next Generation of European Entrepreneurs: From Scientific Innovation to Life Sciences Impact, the 2026 Strüngmann Award winner and Wolfgang Essler, Chief Representative of ATHOS, discuss what it takes to build globally competitive biotech businesses in Europe and translate scientific breakthroughs into lasting impact for patients.
Registration
Registration is now open. A Digital Content Pass will also be available for those unable to attend in person. Updates can be followed via @EBDGroup and #BIOEurope2026.
- For more information, visit: informaconnect.com/bioeurope