4. BIOTECH SUMMIT AUSTRIA 2026

250+ participants from 12 countries, an outstanding speaker lineup and countless opportunities to connect: The 4th BIOTECH SUMMIT AUSTRIA brought the biotech community together in Innsbruck on 13–14 October 2026. Under the motto “Start up, Scale up, Step up!”, the summit showcased the ambition, innovative strength and growing international reach of Austria’s biotech sector.

Organized by BIOTECH AUSTRIA, Human.technology Styria and Standortagentur Tirol, the two-day event brought together leading minds from science, industry, startups, investment and politics. Inspiring keynotes, thought-provoking discussions, startup pitches and targeted 1:1 partnering sessions explored what it takes to turn scientific excellence into internationally successful biotech businesses.

Beyond the stage, dedicated partnering sessions and networking events created valuable opportunities for new connections, fresh ideas and future collaborations.

Among the highlights was a keynote by Karl Nehammer, Vice President of the European Investment Bank and former Austrian Federal Chancellor, who addressed the conditions Europe needs to create globally competitive biotech companies.

Claudio Albrecht, former CEO of STADA AG, offered a forward-looking perspective on the pharmaceutical industry in 2035, while Olympic sailing champion Lukas Mähr shared powerful lessons on resilience, teamwork and navigating challenging waters.

Venture capital expert Stefan Haubner, Founding Partner at APEX Ventures, explored the future of European VC and the need for a distinctly European investment approach.

The summit concluded with an inspiring fireside chat between Christoph Huber, BioNTech founder and investor, and Peter Llewellyn-Davies, President of BIOTECH AUSTRIA, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of building successful biotech ventures.

Peter Llewellyn-Davies, President of BIOTECH AUSTRIA, emphasized:
“The discussions demonstrated the growing ambition of the Austrian biotech sector as well as the importance of continued collaboration to unlock its full potential.”

Anton Mattle, Governor of Tyrol, highlighted the importance of biotechnology for Austria’s economic future:
“Events such as the BIOTECH SUMMIT AUSTRIA showcase Tyrol’s strengths in life sciences and create valuable connections between science, business and policy.”

Marcus Hofer, CEO of Standortagentur Tirol, and Lejla Pock, CEO of Human.technology Styria, underlined the value of bringing the summit to different regions:
“Bringing the summit to different regions allows us to showcase their individual strengths while fostering exchange and collaboration across Austria’s biotech community and beyond.”

After two inspiring days in Innsbruck, one thing is clear: Austria’s biotech community is moving forward – with ambition, momentum and a strong spirit of collaboration.

Thank you to all speakers, participants, sponsors and partners who made the 4th BIOTECH SUMMIT AUSTRIA such a success!

And the journey continues: The 5th BIOTECH SUMMIT AUSTRIA will take place in Graz on 21–22 October 2027.
Save the date – we look forward to seeing you in Graz!