AutomaPlus 2026, the Pharmaceutical Automation and Digitalisation Congress, opens in Zurich on 16 November. The final two-day programme has 10 sessions, from broad group discussions to closed-circle roundtables, and is built for pharma manufacturers, CMOs, CDMOs and the technology providers who work with them. Registration for the last places is still open.

AutomaPlus 2026 programme at a glance

This year, four Partners support the Congress: GSK, Bachem, Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma (as the Technology Partner). Each brings its own expertise, so the discussions draw on perspectives from different sides of the industry.

Over two days, the programme follows digitalisation along the pharma value chain, from R&D through manufacturing to supply chain. Across these stages run the topics that shape daily operations: AI, advanced analytics, data science, strategic collaborations and sustainability.

Executive Opening Panel: AI strategy, governance and generative AI in pharma

The Executive Opening Panel, “AI: Exploring New Frontiers, Facing New Challenges”, covers human-AI collaboration, AI-powered digital innovation, as well as the opportunities and risks of generative AI.

The speaker line-up includes:

• Yolanda Cabrera-Sybesma (CEO at CiNTL Pharma B.V.) – “Transforming with Purpose: Making Digitalisation Deliver Measurable Pharma”,

• Michelle Bridenbaker (VP of Medical Excellence & Communications at Recordati) – “Evolution of AI in Healthcare and Medical Affairs”,

• Farhoodeh Zamani (Director Digital Strategy & Execution at Kenvue) – “Beyond Digital Transformation: Redefining Strategy & Governance for the Age of AI”.

The panel opens the programme with the view from the top of the company: how executives approach AI strategy and governance, and how they judge what digitalisation delivers. Pharma companies can compare these approaches with their own, and solution providers see how industry leaders frame AI before the conversations on site begin.

Leaders Talk 2: smart data and AI across the pharma value chain

Leaders Talk 2, “Smart Data: Driving the Digital Future”, gathers six speakers, including:

• Cédric Colon (Global Supply Chain Strategy Programme Management Global Process Owner at GSK – a Partner of the Congress) – “Smart Data: Transforming the Pharmaceutical Industry with AI-Driven Insights”,

• Evgeny Galimov (Principal Data Scientist at Phastar) – “Challenges of Deploying Agentic AI for Real-world data in Clinical Research”,

• Markus Hartung (Vice President Region EMEA & Global Commercial Processes at Evonik) – “Unlocking Hidden Value Beyond Digitalization”.

The session takes up AI and advanced analytics in real-world practice; data governance, trust, interoperability and cybersecurity; the route from data collection to actionable insights; and decision intelligence.

Closing Panel: data, AI and collaboration in life sciences

The Closing Panel, “Shaping the Future with Data, AI, and Collaboration”, closes the programme and sums up the two days. It looks at digital maturity roadmaps, collaborative ecosystems and open innovation, and the step from digital investment to measurable ROI and value.

Among the speakers:

• Alessandro Raimondo (Knowledge Transfer Officer at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics) – “Building Trusted AI Together: Federated Intelligence from CERN to Pharma”,

• Maz Ahmad (Director of Automation & Digital Innovation at Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult) – “The Missing Middle - Why Life Sciences Struggles to Scale Automation and Digitalisation”,

• Judith Koliwer (Senior Industry Advisor & Principal Consultant Advanced Therapy at Körber Pharma Software) and Frederik Thiele (Business Development Line Optimizer at Körber Pharma Software) – "The digital thread in pharma manufacturing: How connected Level 2, Level 3, and product lifecycle data enable the factory of the future",

• Xinyan LI (Medical GenAI lead at ViiV Healthcare) – “Transforming HCP experience with AI power”.

The sessions and speakers listed here are only a small part of the AutomaPlus 2026 agenda. To receive the full programme, leave your contact details via the link

B2B meetings at AutomaPlus 2026: how participants connect at a closed-door pharma congress

AutomaPlus is a closed-door congress: the audience is selected from industry professionals and leaders, and the organiser invites every participant personally.

Before the Congress, a personal manager sends each participant the attendee list and explains the sessions, the topics and how the event works. Participants pick the contacts that matter most to them and arrange meetings on site. The meetings have no time limit, so a conversation runs as long as it is useful. The exhibition follows the topics of the programme, while the gala dinner at the end of the first day continues the conversations in a no-tie atmosphere. Personal managers continue to support each participant from registration until after the Congress.

The closed-door format itself limits the number of places, and the time left to register is short. Fill in the form to register

FAQ

What is AutomaPlus 2026?

AutomaPlus 2026 is the Pharmaceutical Automation and Digitalisation Congress, bringing together senior decision-makers and specialists from pharmaceutical manufacturers, CMOs, CDMOs, equipment suppliers and technology providers to address the practical challenges of automation, digitalisation and manufacturing excellence in pharma. The programme covers MES, SCADA, LIMS, AI in manufacturing, GMP compliance, quality systems and digital infrastructure for regulated environments.

When and where does AutomaPlus 2026 take place?

AutomaPlus 2026 takes place on 16-17 November 2026 in Zurich, Switzerland, across two days of sessions, roundtables, an exhibition and structured B2B meetings with participants from the pharmaceutical value chain.

Who attends AutomaPlus 2026?

AutomaPlus 2026 is attended by C-level executives, heads of automation, digitalisation leads, manufacturing directors, quality and engineering specialists from pharmaceutical operators, CMOs and CDMOs, alongside equipment manufacturers, system integrators and technology providers serving the regulated pharma environment. The Congress operates on a closed-door model to ensure a focused professional environment of end-users, licensors and solution providers.

How is AutomaPlus different from an open pharma industry event?

AutomaPlus 2026 uses a closed-door format: attendance is limited to verified pharma professionals. Open conferences sell tickets to any visitor, including students and people who came just to look around. The closed format keeps conversations focused on those who hold budgets and technical mandates for the topics on the agenda.

Can I still register for AutomaPlus 2026?

Yes, registration for the last places at AutomaPlus 2026 is still open. The Congress is closed-door and the organiser invites every participant, so the format itself limits the number of places. The time left to register is short, as the Congress opens on 16 November in Zurich.

How do I arrange meetings with the right people at AutomaPlus 2026?

At AutomaPlus 2026, participants receive the attendee list before the Congress, choose the contacts that matter most to them and arrange meetings on site. A personal manager supports each participant from registration until after the Congress. Meetings have no time limit, so a conversation runs as long as it is useful.