Pharma Foundations Agenda

2026 ISPE Europe Annual Conference

Perfect for professionals new to pharma, career-changers, or anyone building foundational knowledge in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

You're here to build a strong foundation, not sit through sessions that assume ten years of experience you don't have yet. This agenda focuses on sessions that explain the "why" behind industry practices, introduce core concepts clearly, and showcase real implementations you can learn from and reference as your career grows.

Every recommended session was chosen because it delivers practical knowledge without jargon overload, insights you can actually use when you're back at your desk Monday morning.

This agenda includes decision-making guidance for every time slot, so you'll know exactly why each session matters to your role and goals.

Monday Schedule

TimeSessionType
0730 – 1745Registration OpenRegistration
0830 – 1200
Opening General Sessions
  • Welcome to the 2026 ISPE Europe Annual Conference
  • Leadership in a Changing World – Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, Healthcare Denmark
  • Responding from Every Seat in Times of Unprecedented Opportunities and Challenges – Susanne Hundsbaek-Pedersen, Roche
  • A Word from the ISPE Vice President of European Operations – Thomas Zimmer
  • Reimagining Regulatory Operations in the AI Age – EMA Perspective
  • FOYA Category Winners Announcement
  • Message from the Conference Chair – David Estape, CRB Group GmbH
Essential industry overview and inspiration - don't miss this foundation-setting content
General Session
0945 – 1900Exhibition Area OpenNetworking
1000 – 1045Networking Break in the Exhibition AreaNetworking
1200 – 1330Networking Lunch in the Exhibition AreaMeal/Networking
1330 – 1500
Choose Your Focus:

Option A: Quality Risk Management in the Light of New European Pharma Regulations

Choose this for hands-on QRM workshop with practical exercises

Option B: Building a Sustainability Culture in Life Sciences Companies

Choose this to understand how to drive sustainability initiatives

Option C: GEP & GMP Compliant Project Delivery

Choose this for project management fundamentals in pharma

Option D: Pharma Open Data Space: Turning Vision into Reality

Choose this to learn about data sharing and collaboration

Option E: Drug Shortages Prevention

Choose this to understand supply chain resilience
Interactive Forums
1500 – 1545Networking Break in the Exhibition AreaNetworking
1545 – 1615

RECOMMENDED: Sustainability in Pharma: Introduction to the New Guide
Ester Lovsin Barle, PhD (Takeda) & Roger Ouimet (CAI)

Perfect starting point for understanding how sustainability integrates into pharmaceutical operations - gain foundational knowledge you can bring to your team immediately
Sustainability & Substances of Concern
1615 – 1645

RECOMMENDED: Transforming Pharma Labs with AI: From Insight to Impact

Accessible introduction to AI applications in pharma labs - no deep technical background required
Pharma 4.0™ in Action
1645 – 1715

RECOMMENDED: Proposed Alternatives to Fluorine in PFAS
Sarah Sambolich, Abzena

Clear explanation of PFAS concerns and practical alternatives - essential knowledge as regulations tighten
Sustainability & Substances of Concern
1715 – 1900Welcome Reception in the Exhibition AreaNetworking

Tuesday Schedule

TimeSessionType
0730 – 1730Registration OpenRegistration
0830 – 0945
Opening General Sessions
  • Day 2 Opening Remarks – Mike Martin, ISPE
  • Industrializing Biopharma: How AI and Modularization Can Close the Global Access Gap – Lars Petersen, FUJIFILM Biotechnologies
  • Keynote Presentation
Industry leadership perspectives on the future of biopharma manufacturing
General Session
0945 – 1030Networking Break in the Exhibition AreaNetworking
0945 – 1600Exhibition Area OpenNetworking
1030 – 1100

RECOMMENDED: How Regulatory Agencies are Helping Ignite Innovation
Alfred Penfold, PM Group

Demystifies regulatory pathways for innovation - learn how FDA and EMA programs actually help technological advancement
Regulatory and Quality
1100 – 1130

RECOMMENDED: Proposed Alternatives to Fluorine in PFAS
Sarah Sambolich, Abzena

Builds on PFAS knowledge with specific alternatives - practical understanding for evaluating materials and processes
Sustainability & Substances of Concern
1130 – 1200

RECOMMENDED: FOYA Category Winner Presentations

See real-world examples of excellence in project delivery - award-winning projects demonstrate best practices you can model
GEP & GMP Compliant Project Delivery
1200 – 1330Networking Lunch in the Exhibition AreaMeal/Networking
1330 – 1400

RECOMMENDED: Implementing Data Integrity: Real-World Lessons
Anna Dachs Soler & Francesc Garrido, AMBIT Iberia

Practical, not theoretical - learn from actual implementation challenges and how to embed data integrity in daily work
Digital Compliance
1400 – 1430

RECOMMENDED: From Collaboration to Inspection Reliance
Andrea Kurz, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Understand how inspection data drives global collaboration - essential context for the regulatory landscape
Regulatory and Quality
1430 – 1500

RECOMMENDED: Driving Pharma 4.0: A Strategic Digital Transformation Journey
Henrik Baran, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH

Comprehensive overview of digital transformation in BioPharma - perfect for understanding where the industry is heading
Pharma 4.0™ in Action
1500 – 1545Networking Break in the Exhibition AreaNetworking
1545 – 1700
Closing General Sessions
  • Day 2 Conference Highlights – David Estape, CRB Group GmbH
  • Keynote Presentation
  • Keynote Presentation – Syed Abbas Yar-Khan, Eli Lilly and Company
General Session
1900 – 2300
Networking Dinner
Connect, indulge, and unwind with fellow attendees - great opportunity for early-career networking
Networking

Wednesday Schedule

TimeSessionType
0730 – 1700Registration OpenRegistration
0830 – 1015
Opening General Sessions
  • Day 3 Opening Remarks
  • ISPE Affiliate Insights – Anders Widov, BWT Pharma & Biotech AB
  • Pharma 4.0™ Survey Results
  • Women in Pharma® Supported Presentation
Industry insights and survey data to benchmark your organization
General Session
0945 – 1400Exhibition Area OpenNetworking
1015 – 1100Networking Break in the Exhibition AreaNetworking
1100 – 1130

RECOMMENDED: Pharma 4.0 in Action: Autonomous Robotic Cell Therapy Manufacturing

See the future of manufacturing today - accessible overview of how robotics are transforming cell therapy production
Pharma 4.0™ in Action
1130 – 1200

RECOMMENDED: Leveraging Production Data for Smart Maintenance at Xellia Pharma
Magnus Liisberg (Omron), Christian Paaske (Xellia) & Stefan Jensen (Optipeople)

Real case study showing how data drives maintenance decisions - learn predictive maintenance principles in a regulated environment
Pharma 4.0™ in Action
1200 – 1230

RECOMMENDED: Beyond the Hype: Delivering Value from Pharma 4.0 Investments
Gianpaolo Orlandi & Peter Carydias, Wood

Cut through the buzzwords - understand what actually delivers value and build critical thinking skills for evaluating digital initiatives
Pharma 4.0™ in Action
1230 – 1400Networking Lunch in the Exhibition AreaMeal/Networking
1400 – 1630
Closing General Sessions
  • General Session
  • General Session – Tala Fakhouri, PhD, MPH, Parexel International
  • Regulatory Panel Discussion
  • Closing Remarks
Regulatory perspectives and conference wrap-up - important for understanding industry direction
General Session