Pharma, Biotech & Advanced Materials Forum: Aligning Industry Priorities with Translational Capability

Overview

Innovation across pharma, biotechnology, materials science, and formulation increasingly depends on cross-sector collaboration. Bringing together specialist expertise and infrastructure is often key to advancing translational and commercially relevant R&D.

This focused half-day forum will convene industry and academia to examine current R&D priorities, showcase relevant capabilities, and explore practical routes to collaboration.

Hosted at Alderley Park, the session will connect attendees with expertise and infrastructure from the Henry Royce Institute, the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool, the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC), and wider regional partners.

The programme combines capability insights with challenge mapping and structured discussion, enabling participants to identify alignment between industry needs and academic expertise.

Venue: Mereside Lecture Theatre, Alderley Park, Congleton Rd, Nether Alderley, Macclesfield SK10 4TG

Date: 30/04/2026

Time: 09:30 – 13:30

Who Should Attend

This event is designed for:

• Companies of any size working across pharma, biotechnology, formulation, materials, and diagnostics
• Innovation-active academic researchers
• Business development, R&D, and partnership professionals across the ecosystem

What You’ll Gain

• Visibility of relevant facilities and translational capabilities
• Insight into funding routes and access mechanisms
• Open discussion of technical, regulatory and scale-up challenges
• New cross-sector connections and clearer pathways to collaboration

This event will bring together senior representatives from leading research institutes, universities and translational centres to address key barriers to healthcare and materials innovation.

Programme

Confirmed speakers include:

• Luke Davies and Doug Parker – Henry Royce Institute
• Caroline Stanton, Head of SME Partnerships – University of Manchester
• Sabina Hawthornwaite, Programme Manager – Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC)
• Professor Neill Liptrott – University of Liverpool (BRITE & CELT)
• Professor Zeeshan Ahmad – University of Manchester

A detailed agenda and final event information will be circulated to registered delegates closer to the event.

To attend, please complete this registration form. Your input will also help shape elements of the discussion.