2026 Event Programme
Programme is subject to change
Registration and Coffee
Welcome
Keynote
TBC
Same Same but Different – Industrial bioeconomy in Germany in a global context
Inventive tinkering combined with our passion for precision fermentation (beer! bread! ‘kraut’!) should make Germany the ‘place to be’ for biotechnology industries. German scientists like Axel Ullrich invented approaches to using biological entities in diabetes or cancer therapy 50 years ago and these are still valid today. He did so while he worked in laboratories in the in the U.S. which are still the world’s leading location for biotech research and commercialization. But: China is catching up. In particular in industrial biotechnology. The talk will provide insights into our current position in the so-called bioeconomy today and the opportunities available to Germany or – better – Europe to compete globally.
Viola Bronsema, CEO BIO Deutschland e. V.
Climate Mitigation
This session will feature a 20 minute plenary session delivered by Lionel Clarke followed by a 40 minute panel session with a focus on sustainable futures.
Lionel Clarke, Director of BionerG Ltd
Coffee Break
Scaling Success
The presenters for this panel are all senior members of successful developing companies. They will each give an introduction to their company’s journey. This will be followed by a discussion on the key lessons learnt during the development of their companies and how the industrial translation process from lab to company can be improved.
David Sheppard, CEO of HotHouse Therapeutics
Jacob Nathan, Founder and CEO of Epoch Biodesign
Plenary
TBC
Lunch
Keynote: Synthetic Biology – The state of play and the vision, both academically and industrial
Matthew Chang, Executive Director of the National Centre for Engineering Biology, Singapore and Professor of Synthetic Biology and Biochemistry at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
Engineering Biology shaping the Bioeconomy
This session will feature a 15 minute plenary session focused on engineering biology shaping the bioeconomy followed by a 40 minute panel session with a focus on UK Policy.
Company Presentations
In this fast-paced session, emerging companies take the stage to showcase how they are transforming ideas into impactful SynBio ventures. Each startup will deliver a five-minute talk, offering a snapshot of the innovation, ambition and commercial potential driving the next generation of engineering biology.
Christina Rode, CEO of Hulk Bio
Lara Selles Vidal, Co-Founder of Greenleaf
Vinkeeta Tripathi, CEO of Vitarka Therapeutics
Coffee Break
Engineering Biology shaping the Bioeconomy
This session will feature a 20 minute plenary session delivered by Peter Wehrheim with a focus on EU policy followed by a 40 minute panel session
Peter Wehrheim, Head of Unit for the Bioeconomy and Food System, European Commission
Plenary
TBC
Synbio Unplugged
TBC
Drinks Reception
Arrival and Coffee
Keynote: Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing in Shenzhen
Chenli Liu, Professor at Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology
Panel
TBC
Coffee Break
Plenary
TBC
Panel
TBC
Company Presentations
In this fast-paced session, emerging companies take the stage to showcase how they are transforming ideas into impactful SynBio ventures. Each startup will deliver a five-minute talk, offering a snapshot of the innovation, ambition and commercial potential driving the next generation of engineering biology.
Fredrik Adams, Founder and CEO of Firlas
Plenary
TBC
Lunch
Investment and Finance for Growth
TBC
Plenary
TBC
Plenary
TBC
Plenary
TBC
Coffee Break
Synbio Unplugged
TBC