The conference sessions, running parallel to the 1-2-1 meetings program, underpins the event’s core mission of scaling industrial biomanufacturing in the region.
In this pivotal year for the growth of European biomanufacturing, a carefully curated program of company presentations, guest speakers and panels will deliver actionable insights and solutions to critical industry challenges – sparking transformative 1-2-1 commercial discussions.
08:00
Networking coffee & registration
09:00
Opening Remarks
Paul MacDonald, Co-Founder & MD, Bio Innovations Europe
09:10
Opening address
2026 - The year of policy initiatives to accelerate Europe's industrial biomanufacturing scale-up
Europe is a global leader in innovation and piloting, but it lags the US and Asia in commercial scale-up, with fragmented regulatory frameworks, delayed approvals, and deficiencies in affordable feedstocks and scale-up capital held to blame. These are issues that a raft of new EU policy initiatives looks to solve.
To avoid missing net zero goals and becoming a biotech R&D lab for the world, exporting manufacturing jobs, IP and wealth to the US and Asia, Europe aims to bridge a biorefinery “capacity gap” of up to 20x by 2040.
This keynote session examines these new initiatives – What advantages do they bring, do they go far enough, and how can government and industry best align to accelerate scale-up in this pivotal year for European industrial biomanufacturing.
09:40
Guest keynote address
10:00
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
10:10
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
10:20
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
10:30
Panel discussion
Scale, baby, scale! - How the industry can build on new policy initiatives to acheive its scale-up dreams
With EU getting behind a massive capacity scale-up by 2040, how can the industry build on new legislation and public sector support to fast track the scaleup journey. In this panel we will hear the perspectives of leading companies on the new policy initiatives.
Where do they see the biggest gains? Where are the gaps? Where is government still creating roadblocks? And how could a unified and streamlined European regulatory landscape best connect innovation, feedstocks, capital and manufacturing from across the continent to accelerate commercial scale-up and keep Europe in the global race for biomanufacturing market share?
11:00
Networking coffee
11:45
Panel discussion
Filling the CAPEX gap to finance Europe’s 20x biorefinery scale-up
To achieve their scale-up ambitions European companies must bridge a huge CAPEX funding gap, by unlocking new public funds and attracting far greater private capital. In 2026 the EU will mobilise unprecedented public funding and deliver innovative de-risking instruments along with regulatory clarity to attract more private investment to the sector.
How can scaling companies access these new sources of capital? What technical, contractual, and bankability improvements can the industry deliver to make projects truly “investor-ready”? Will private finance finally step up? And how must public funders, banks, corporate offtakers, and private investors align to deliver the multi-billion transformative capital Europe needs to close its 20x biorefinery capacity gap by 2040.
12:15
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
12:25
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
12:35
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
12:45
Guest speaker
How to achieve bankability for a scale-up
We hear from a veteran of the scale-up journey on how to meet technical, contractural and regulatory challenges to deliver an “investor-ready” project
13:00
Networking lunch
14:30
Panel discussion
Defossilizing fashion: accelerating the industry’s shift towards sustainable and cicular alternatives to fossil-fuel polymers
This panel hears from brands and developers working on projects to drive industry-wide adoption of bio-based fibres and materials for fashion and footwear. From toolkits to achieve price parity with traditional fossil-based synthetics and strategies for ethical and scalable sourcing of sustainable feedstocks, to the development of unified industry-wide approaches to measuring and certifying environmental impact, we hear from those building a future where bio-based has replaced fossil-based in our wardrobes.
15:00
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
15:10
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
15:20
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]
15:30
Networking refreshments
16:00
PANEL DISCUSSION
Maximising Euorpe's feedstock potential: Building low-cost resilient supply chains for Europe's biomanufacturing scale-up
European companies sourcing feedstocks for scale-up face the multiple challenges of cost, import dependency, seasonal availability, and competition with food/energy uses. This panel discusses opportunities to build resilient, low-cost feedstock supply chains by valorising agricultural residues, forestry waste, and organic by-products, investing in collection logistics, and implementing supportive policies to ensure sustainable, competitive sourcing from within the Continent.
16:30
A technical presentation from a leading bio pioneer
If you think your company would be a good fit for speaking here, please email [email protected]