The Florida Innovation Conference, powered by BioFlorida, will take place at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, Wednesday October 14 – Friday, October 16, 2026. This year’s Conference will bring together the life sciences community in the state and showcase current scientific advancements,  business achievements and public policy affecting the industry. Please check back for program and speaker updates as they occur.

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026

1:00 PM – 5:30 PMRegistration Open
1:05 pm – 1:15 pmChairman’s Address 
Dr. Charles Bruce, Mayo Clinic 
1:15 pm – 1:45 pmConference Welcome  
Mark A. Glickman, President & CEO, BioFlorida  
1:45 pm – 2:15 pmKeynote
Brent Saunders, Bausch + Lomb 
2:15 pm – 3:00 pmExecutive Panel: Innovation to Impact – Building Companies That Change Lives 
Maurice Ferré, MD, Insightec                      
Chuck Mattera, Ph.D, Avalanche Thinking 
Moderator: Rich Daly, Angelini Pharma 
3:00 pm – 3:45 pmExecutive Panel: Women in Life Sciences
Karen Moore, APR, CPRC, Moore, Inc. 
Gail Page, Turrent Capital
Claudia Zylberberg, Kosten Digital 
Moderator: Lorrie Albinson, BioFlorida  
4:30 pm – 5:15 pmVIP Reception (Invite Only)
5:00 pm – 6:30 pmWelcome Reception – Innovation Hall
6:30 pm – ?Dinner on your own

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

8:00 AM – 6:30 PMRegistration Open
8:00 am – 9:00 amBreakfast with Exhibitors
8:00 am – 5:00 pmInnovation Hall Open, One-on-One Partnering Available, and VIP Lounge Open
8:00 am – 9:00 amVIP Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:50 am

General Session

Keynote
Florida’s Opportunity: What Global Pharma Needs and Where Innovation Happens Next
Moderator: Elizabeth A Shenkman, PhD, University of Florida

9:50 am – 10:00 amTransition Break
*Coffee near breakouts*

Breakout Sessions (1)

10:00 am – 10:45 am

The Florida Advantage
How Florida’s economic development leaders are
accelerating investment, talent, infrastructure, and
innovation across the state’s life sciences ecosystem
Moderator: Matt Swanson, SelectFlorida
Warren Baucom, Lee County EDO
Todd Holt, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC

Beyond the Breach
How life sciences organizations can prepare for, respond to, and recover from today’s evolving cyber threats.

VIP Lounge

10:45 am – 11:00 amTransition Break
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

General Session

From Legislation to Life Saving Innovation: The Sunshine Genetics Act
How government, academia, healthcare, and industry are working
together to strengthen Florida’s life sciences ecosystem.

Moderator: Gaurav Malik, Quest Diagnostics
David H. Ledbetter, PhD, FACMG, Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases

12:00 pm – 12:15 pmLunch Begins
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

General Session

NeuroAI: Crossing the Bridge between Artificial and Biological Intelligence

Moderator: Chuck Mattera, PhD, Avalanche Thinking, Inc.
Paul Evans, PhD, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience               
Martin Maier, PhD, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique
Jackson Streeter, PhD UF Innovate Ventures

1:00 pm – 2:00 pmInnovation Hall Networking/Partnering Meetings

Breakout Sessions (2)

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Health Systems
Innovative Solutions to Patient CarePreparing to Raise Capital: What Investors Expect and How Companies Should Prepare Internally
Moderator: Rob Mino, Helus Pharma 

VIP Lounge

2:45 pm – 3:00 pmTransition Break

Breakout Sessions (3)

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Innovation Spotlight

 

Networking for Introverts, Extraverts and In-Between Verts
Abby Kohut, Staffing Symphony
Heidi Rosen, Clinical Dynamix

 

VIP Lounge

3:45 pm – 5:00 pmInnovation Hall/Snack/Partnering Meetings
6:00 pm – 9:00 pmBioFlorida Awards Celebration (open to all attendees/registrants)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026

7:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Registration Open

7:15 am – 8:15 amGovernment Affairs Committee Members Breakfast
8:00 am – 9:00 amBreakfast with Exhibitors
8:00 am – 12:00 pmExhibit Hall Open and One-on-One Partnering Available
8:30 am – 11:45 amBIOPITCH (open to all attendees)
9:00 am – 9:30 amGeneral Session
Intro, Mark Glickman, BioFlorida
9:30 am – 10:15 amGeneral Session
State of the Life Sciences Financial Markets
JP Morgan
10:15 am – 10:30 amBreak
10:30 am – 11:00 amGeneral Session
Capital Connections – From Tallahassee to Washington
11:00 am – 11:45 amGeneral Session
Driving the Future of MedTech
11:45 am – 12:00 pmTransition Break & Buffet Lunch Pickup
12:00 pm – 12:45 pmGeneral Session
Made in Florida: Innovation at Scale
12:45 pm – 1:30 pmGeneral Session
BIOPITCH Winners Announced
Closing Remarks

*Agenda subject to change