bio:cap Program 2026

Biotech is becoming a geopolitical asset - and Europe is entering one of the most competitive phases in decades. Capital, talent and technological sovereignty are shifting toward regions that can scale fast and reduce strategic dependencies. The next growth cycle will not be won in the lab alone, but in the ability to translate scientific excellence into industrial strength. In a multipolar bioeconomy, Europe must recalibrate its speed, depth and investment power to remain relevant.

• Which regions lead biotech’s next growth phase?
• How can Europe stay competitive in innovation and capital attraction?
• What cross-industry partnerships redefine biotech?
• How can investors strengthen European autonomy?

Artificial intelligence is emerging as the productivity engine of the life sciences — triggering a structural shift in how drugs are designed, validated and manufactured. Cost curves, development cycles and data requirements are being rewritten at pace. Companies that control scalable data infrastructure, credible automation and transparent AI models will set tomorrow’s industry standards. Investors increasingly demand proof of ROI and technical clarity, as trust becomes a decisive factor in capital allocation.

• How is AI transforming cost structures in R&D?
• What data infrastructures scale European biotech?
• Which business models make AI in biology investable?
• How do we build trust and transparency in AI-driven life sciences?

After the global mRNA breakthrough, attention is shifting to platforms that promise truly curative therapies. But the path to industrial scale remains demanding: high complexity, long production cycles and sensitive supply chains require disciplined execution. Investors assess platform maturity, regulatory predictability and manufacturing readiness as core indicators of value. Europe must decide whether it can compete in a market where speed and scalability determine therapeutic reach.

• What lessons from mRNA apply to next-gen cell & gene therapies?
• Where does Europe need to invest to scale ATMP manufacturing?
• How do investors assess platform risk and production timelines?
• Which public–private models accelerate patient access?

Diagnostics and precision medicine are evolving into high-growth, high-scalability markets. Advances in robotics, sensors and data analytics are creating business models that promise measurable efficiency gains and earlier interventions. For investors, the key question is whether these technologies can move from promising pilots to system-wide adoption. Regulatory frameworks must evolve in tandem, ensuring innovation is deployed responsibly while supporting automated clinical workflows.

• Which diagnostic technologies are ready for scale?
• How can investors measure ROI in data-driven prevention?
• What ethical and regulatory frameworks drive adoption?
• How do robotics and automation reshape clinical workflows?

Regulation is becoming a competitive differentiator and Europe must accelerate to keep pace. Predictable approval pathways, targeted incentives and modern infrastructure will decide whether companies can scale their operations at home. GMP capacity, secure data environments and unified EU standards shape the continent’s industrial readiness. As technology outpaces policy cycles, Europe faces the challenge of safeguarding patients without slowing innovation.

• How can Europe balance innovation with patient safety?
• What incentives attract capital into biotech infrastructure?
• Which EU initiatives shape future approval pathways?

Capital is becoming both a bottleneck and a strategic lever. New venture models, corporate investment strategies and alternative exit routes are redefining how biotech companies grow. Investors seek resilient business models, clear commercialization pathways and risk profiles that withstand market volatility. At the same time, global economic shifts, interest rates, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions , leave a visible mark on biotech liquidity and valuations.

• Which investment models accelerate biotech scaling?
• How can corporates and VCs collaborate effectively?
• What exit strategies sustain long-term value?
• How do macroeconomic shifts affect biotech capital?

Health resilience is emerging as an economic imperative as global risks intensify. Biosecurity, early detection and AI-enabled preparedness are becoming core components of national competitiveness. At the same time, the longevity sector is gaining momentum, linking scientific progress to significant economic opportunity. Prevention and resilience could evolve into Europe’s next strategic growth engines — shaping a future in which health becomes both an asset and a driver of prosperity.

• How can Europe strengthen its health resilience through biotech and AI?
• What role do data and early detection play in preparedness?
• How does the longevity economy reshape investment and policy?
• Can prevention and resilience become Europe’s new competitive advantage?

Main Themes

• Biotech Innovation & Global Trends – the international competitive landscape, Europe’s positioning, cross-sector partnerships.
• AI & TechBio (Introductory Frame) – data-driven biology as the key lever for competitiveness and efficiency.
• Investment & Commercialization in Biotech (Strategic Overview) – capital flows, geopolitical capital markets, investor confidence.

Main Themes

• Cell & Gene Therapy – Beyond mRNA – scaling curative therapies, manufacturing, clinical translation.
• AI & TechBio – From Labs to Platforms – automation, predictive biology, data ecosystems.
• Legal Landscape & Infrastructure – regulation, data governance, EU framework conditions.
• Investment & Commercialization in Biotech – funding models, venture capital, industrial partnerships.

Main Themes

• Health Resilience & Longevity (Fusion of “Bio Resilience & Preparedness” + “Longevity”) → From crisis resilience to healthy ageing: biotech, AI, and public-private preparedness as the new growth frontier.