The Florida Innovation Conference, powered by BioFlorida, will take place at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, Wednesday October 14 – Friday, October 16, 2026. The conference will begin at 1pm on Wednesday and close out at 2pm on Friday. 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.
*Agenda subject to change
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026
| 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Registration Open |
|---|---|
| 1:05 pm – 1:15 pm | Chairman’s Address Dr. Charles Bruce, Mayo Clinic |
| 1:15 pm – 1:45 pm | Conference Welcome Mark A. Glickman, President & CEO, BioFlorida |
| 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm | Keynote Brent Saunders, Bausch + Lomb |
| 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm | Executive 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 pm | Executive 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 pm | VIP Reception (Invite Only) |
| 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm | Welcome Reception - Innovation Hall |
| 6:30 pm - ? | Dinner on your own |
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026
| 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM | Registration Open |
|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Innovation Hall Open, One-on-One Partnering Available, and VIP Lounge Open |
| 8:00 am - 9:00 am | VIP Breakfast |
9:00 am – 9:50 am | General Session Keynote Moderator: Elizabeth A Shenkman, PhD, University of Florida |
9:50 am - 10:00 am | Transition Break |
Breakout Sessions (1) 10:00 am - 10:45 am | The Florida Advantage Moderator: Matt Swanson, SelectFlorida
Beyond the Breach
VIP Lounge |
| 10:45 am - 11:00 am | Transition Break |
11:00 am - 12:00 pm | General Session From Legislation to Life Saving Innovation: The Sunshine Genetics Act Moderator: Gaurav Malik, Quest Diagnostics |
| 12:00 pm - 12:15 pm | Lunch 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. |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Innovation Hall Networking/Partnering Meetings |
Breakout Sessions (2) 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm | Health Systems
Preparing to Raise Capital: What Investors Expect and How Companies Should Prepare Internally
VIP Lounge |
| 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm | Transition Break |
Breakout Sessions (3) 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm | Innovation Spotlight
Networking for Introverts, Extraverts and In-Between Verts
VIP Lounge |
| 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm | Innovation Hall/Snack/Partnering Meetings |
| 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | BioFlorida Awards Celebration (open to all attendees/registrants) |
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026
| 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Registration Open |
|---|---|
| 7:15 am – 8:15 am | Government Affairs Committee Members Breakfast |
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 8:00 am - 12:00 pm | Exhibit Hall Open and One-on-One Partnering Available |
| 8:30 am - 11:45 am | BIOPITCH (open to all attendees) |
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | General Session |
9:30 am - 10:15 am | General Session |
| 10:15 am - 10:30 am | Break |
10:30 am - 11:00 am | General Session |
| 11:00 am - 11:45 am | General Session |
| 11:45 am - 12:00 pm | Transition Break & Buffet Lunch Pickup |
| 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm | General Session |
| 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm | General Session |
*Agenda subject to change
