Europe’s Life Science Ecosystems in Dialogue: The CEBR Annual Meeting 2026 in Sweden
On May 20 and 21, 2025, Sweden became the meeting point for the European life science community: This year’s CEBR Annual Meeting brought together leading representatives from clusters, innovation networks, and research institutions across Europe in Uppsala and Stockholm. Jointly organized by the Council of European BioRegions (CEBR) and the hosts—STUNS Life Science and the Stockholm Science City Foundation—the event focused squarely on strategic collaboration, European regulation, and the future of high-performance innovation ecosystems.
CEBR Board Members
/ CEBRStrategic Exchange on Europe’s Future Topics
This year’s program focused on key developments that will have a lasting impact on Europe’s life sciences landscape. Particular emphasis was placed on discussing current European regulations and their implications for cluster organizations, innovation ecosystems, and their members.
Featuring high-caliber contributions from across the European life sciences sector, the Annual Meeting provided a platform for open dialogue, fresh perspectives, and concrete strategies for fostering stronger networking within Europe. Distinguished guests included Claire Skentelbery and Kristina Ekberg, who provided key insights that enriched the discussions.
This year’s program focused on key developments that will have a lasting impact on Europe’s life sciences landscape. Particular emphasis was placed on discussing current European regulations and their implications for cluster organizations, innovation ecosystems, and their members.
Featuring high-caliber contributions from across the European life sciences sector, the Annual Meeting provided a platform for open dialogue, fresh perspectives, and concrete strategies for fostering stronger networking within Europe. Distinguished guests included Claire Skentelbery and Kristina Ekberg, who provided key insights that enriched the discussions.
Experience the Swedish Life Sciences Ecosystem Up Close
In addition to the strategic sessions, the program offered numerous opportunities to gain firsthand insight into the Swedish innovation landscape. A particular highlight was the visit to the renowned BioMedical Centre at Uppsala University, which provided participants with a glimpse into one of Europe’s most dynamic research environments.
The interactive "Escape Room Pharmacy" activity provided a unique blend of teamwork and scientific practice, creatively combining pharmaceutical challenges with collaborative problem-solving.
The first day of the event concluded with inspiring presentations on digitalization, venture building, and innovation promotion within the Swedish ecosystem. Valuable insights were shared by speakers including Felix Hemström Trolin, Olle Bergdahl, and Ulf Landegren.
The excitement continued on the second day. During the workshop "CEBR Opportunities & Challenges 2026 – What’s Next?", participants joined moderator Kazimierz Murzyn (Klaster LifeScience Kraków) to discuss current challenges and future opportunities for European life sciences clusters.
The subsequent networking lunch at Urban Deli provided ample space for personal exchange and making new connections, before the interactive "CEBR B2B" session shifted the focus to joint projects and collaborations. Through short presentations by the clusters, matchmaking roundtables, and a co-creation sprint, new ideas for Europe-wide collaboration emerged.
The program concluded with the "Cluster Good Practices" session, where successful real-world examples were presented—ranging from concrete solutions and measurable results to valuable lessons learned and approaches that can be applied to other innovation ecosystems.
Life Science center Forskaren
/ CEBRA New Chapter for the CEBR
Another pivotal moment of the Annual Meeting was the CEBR Board elections, marking the beginning of a new leadership phase for the European network.
Hickmah Tagaully (Medicen Paris Region) was elected as the new President. The role of Vice President will henceforth be assumed by Kristina Eskenazi from the Bulgarian Health and Life Sciences Cluster, BioCluster.bg. Furthermore, Petra Kinzlova, CEO of Prague.bio, was newly appointed to the Board. The Board now consists of Hickmah Tagaully, Kristina Eskenazi, Kazimierz Murzyn, Margot Jehle, Alexis Biton, Karen Lindegaard, Pablo Zardoya-Laguardia, Ria Hein, and Petra Kinzlova.
At the same time, the CEBR community paid tribute to the long-standing dedication of Montse Daban Marín from the Spanish cluster Biocat, who concluded her six-year presidency. Through her vision and commitment, she significantly shaped the network's development and lastingly strengthened European cooperation in the life sciences sector. Sauro Vicini, who stepped down from the Board, was also expressly thanked for his valuable contributions to the network.
More Than Just a Conference
Year after year, the CEBR Annual Meeting demonstrates the vital importance of personal encounters, trust, and European collaboration for the continued development of innovation ecosystems.
Particularly in an era of growing regulatory demands and shifting global competitive dynamics, one thing becomes clear: Europe’s strength lies in the interconnectedness of its regions, clusters, and talent.
Margot Jehle, Project Manager and Board Member at CEBR, sums up the meeting in a single sentence: “The gathering in Sweden impressively demonstrated the immense potential inherent in a collaborative European approach to the life sciences—and underscored just how crucial platforms like the CEBR Annual Meeting remain for the future of the industry.”
The Council of European BioRegions (CEBR) is a European association of life science clusters, bringing together nearly 50 cluster organisations from 17 countries.
/ CEBR
CEBR Board Members, from left to right: Alexis Biton, Kristina Eskenazi, Hickmah Tagaully, Petra Kinzslova, Kazimierz Murzyn, Margot Jehle and Karen Lindegaard.
/ CEBRBioRegio STERN Management GmbH