ATE: 2025 Agenda

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09:30
  1. Registration & networking
10:00
    • Investment Summit
    Partnering room

    A VC leader or industry analyst to set the tone, covering the investment climate for advanced therapies, emerging hotspots and why early-stage innovation is still worth investing in

10:15
    • Investment Summit
    Partnering room

    Bringing together investors across the funding spectrum (from seed-stage VCs to growth investors) to share what drives decision making in today’s market

11:00
    • Investment Summit
    Partnering room

    A showcase from 2 early-stage biotech’s outlining not just what they want from funding partners but what they need – mentorship, guidance, expertise and access to networks

11:30
    • Investment Summit
    Partnering room

    A candid conversation between a biotech founder and their early investor exploring the startup journey

11:50
    • Investment Summit
    Refreshment & Networking break
12:25
    • Investment Summit
    Partnering room

    A rapid-fire panel / multi-perspective session on high-growth areas in biotech. Each speaker gives a 5-minute outlook on where their focus and how this aligns with market trends

13:00
    • Investment Summit
    Partnering room
    Wrap up from senior VC – covering the landscape of what’s next and where biotech investment will grow for the next 5 years
14:00
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
14:05
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    As of 2023, fewer than 30% of participants in clinical trials are women. Whilst we have seen progress, there is still more to achieve when it comes to representation of women in research. There is also a significant lack of research towards women’s health and female related conditions. This session aims to explore the systemic gap in women’s health, the consequence of insufficient research and how we can reframe clinical trial design to be more inclusive, equitable and effective
15:25
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
16:10
  1. Networking break
16:20
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room

    Following on from the earlier roundtables, this session enables the moderator from each table to share the key points from the discussion. Enabling audience members to receive insights across all topics and encouraging further discussion post-event.

17:20
    • Women in Advanced Therapies
    Partnering room
17:30
  1. Drinks reception
08:00
  1. Registration and networking coffee
09:00
  1. Plenary
09:10
  1. Plenary
    This session will explore the current state of the CGT industry, with a focus on Europe’s evolving role amid global shifts. In a climate where research ecosystems face mounting uncertainty — particularly following moves in the U.S. to scale back federal support for scientific innovation, Europe must sharpen its competitiveness to secure its leadership in advanced therapies. We will examine emerging trends, key market dynamics, and the urgent need for Europe to overcome challenges around scalability, affordability, and patient access. The discussion will highlight how external pressures are reshaping Europe’s strategic priorities — and what actions are needed now to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s leadership in CGT. 
09:45
  1. Plenary

    Deep dive into the regulatory framework that governs CGT across major rejoins, focusing on recent updates, new legislation and how companies can navigate the changing landscape.

10:15
  1. Plenary
    A conversation with key patient advocates and organisations to highlight the importance of patient engagement, access, and ensuring therapies meet real-world needs in CGT.
11:00
  1. Coffee and networking break
    Exhibition Hall
    1-2-1 Meetings
11:30
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Cutting edge developments in CRISPR, gene editing and cell engineering
    • The next wave of in vivo and ex vivo gene therapies
    • What breakthroughs are expected to reshape the industry?
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    • As the pressure mounts to deliver advanced therapies faster, cheaper, and closer to the patient, decentralised manufacturing is stepping into the spotlight. But does breaking away from centralised models really deliver on cost? 

    • This panel dives into the economic realities behind the decentralisation trend. Are localised manufacturing hubs the answer to cutting costs, or do they introduce new layers of complexity and hidden spend? From infrastructure investments to regulatory headaches, we’ll separate financial fact from fiction and explore whether decentralisation is a bold leap forward or an expensive detour. 

12:05
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    Terumo
12:25
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
12:50
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Scientific advances and key breakthroughs.
    • Safety, efficacy, and regulatory challenges.
    • Investment trends and commercialisation potential.
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    • Balancing technical and financial realities in manufacturing
    • When to invest in infrastructure vs outsourcing
    • The role of automation in optimising CMC process
13:20
  1. Lunch & networking break
    Exhibition Hall
    1-2-1 Meetings
14:30
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • How startups secure investment before reaching human trials 

    • strategic and tactical guidance on how to secure the right funding at the right time, from seed rounds through Series A f 

    • Investor insights into due diligence, risk mitigation and valuation and what good really looks like  

    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    • Transitioning from academic proof of concept to market-ready product 

    • Why biotech teams must integrate CMC, regulatory and pharmacology early 

    • Avoiding pitfalls of overselling and overpromising 

15:05
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Big Pharma loves billion-dollar M&A headlines, but where are they when early-stage innovation needs a lifeline?  

    • Why pharma rarely engages before Phase 2, and whether that can change 

    • What can early-stage biotechs do to attract big pharma interest? 

    • Real-world case studies of early partnerships that defies the trend 

    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    Discuss the key challenges in patient-centric manufacturing, focusing on ensuring timely delivery of therapies, managing logistics, and addressing issues related to personalised treatments, from patient selection to product delivery. 
15:40
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
16:00
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
16:20
  1. Coffee break & networking
    Exhibition Hall
    1-2-1 Meetings
16:45
  1. Plenary
    Our interactive roundtables are designed with you in mind. Dive into dynamic, interactive discussions tailored to your interests. Select the table that sparks your curiosity, engage with like-minded professionals, and be part of a conversation that’s both insightful and impactful.  
09:00
  1. Plenary
    Join us for an exciting session where innovative biotech start-ups pitch their groundbreaking ideas and solutions. Watch as they present to a panel of expert investors, who will provide real-time feedback, insights, and guidance. This is a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge advancements in the biotech space and gain valuable perspectives from both entrepreneurs and industry leaders. 
10:30
  1. Plenary
    Today's CGT startups are facing the toughest fundraising environment in years — and solid science alone isn’t enough. This panel digs into the hard truths: How the market squeeze is reshaping funding dynamics, why traditional playbooks aren't working, and what it takes to stand out when investors are more selective than ever. Real stories. Real setbacks. Real strategies for surviving and scaling in a high-stakes market. 
11:00
  1. Networking & coffee break
    Exhibition Hall
    1-2-1 Meetings
11:30
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
11:50
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
12:15
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    Exploring the evolving regulatory landscape for advanced therapies and what must change to facilitate breakthroughs in cell and gene therapy innovation. 
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    • The manufacturer’s role in proving regulatory feasibility. 

    • Case studies of successfully navigating MHRA/GMP challenges. 

    • What regulators really want – breaking down assumptions. 

12:45
  1. Lunch break
    Exhibition Hall
14:00
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
14:20
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
14:45
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    • Best practices for early interactions with EMA, FDA, MHRA etc. 

    • How proactive regulatory engagement reduces delays and de-risk trials 

    • Lessons learned from companies that successfully navigated approval 

    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    • Why characterisation and analytics remain a major hurdle. 

    • Best practices and emerging solutions. 

    • Collaborative approaches to tackling technical challenges 

15:20
    • R&D, clinical innovation & translation
    Theatre 1
    Strategies to speed up the development process of CGTs, ensuring that therapies reach patients faster while maintaining high standards of safety and efficacy. 
    • Manufacturing, scale up & commercial strategy
    Theatre 2
    Explore strategies for securing reimbursement and market access for cell and gene therapies, focusing on pricing, HTAs, and policy advocacy to ensure patient access. 
15:50
  1. Exhibition Hall
    1-2-1 Meetings
16:15
  1. Plenary

    AI is everywhere, but in CGT, real deployment remains limited. This session goes beyond the buzz to explore the tangible opportunities, early wins, and critical barriers to broader adoption. 

    We’ll look at where AI is beginning to make a difference and what’s still needed to move from isolated pilots to real impact. What kind of data, infrastructure, and cross-functional collaboration will unlock AI’s full potential in CGT? 

17:00
  1. Plenary
    As we wrap up two days of deep discussions on the current state of the European CGT landscape, this final panel will chart the path ahead. Which steps must Europe take to remain competitive and lead the way in the next 5–10 years? Each panellist will share their key takeaways from the last two days, reflecting on the insights, challenges, and opportunities discussed. 
17:45
  1. Plenary