08:00

Investors forum part 1 - breakfast session -

Hosted by Johnson & Johnson Innovation

The investors forum is an exciting opportunity for those companies looking for equity capital and/or partnerships with companies and institutes across the life sciences value chain, from biotech, medtech and pharma companies to financiers and universities. The forum offers excellent opportunities for presenting your company or university to Venture Capitalists, corporate- and regional investment funds and to discuss your business strategy.

08:30

Registration and information desk open

08:30

Exhibition

Present your company, products, technology or service. Open from 08:30 a.m. till 18:30 a.m.

09:30

Plenary opening program

Hosted by Leiden Bio Science Park

Welcome by our conference host Suzanne Spliethoff MSc. and official opening.

• Opening
  

  by Esther Peters, Director Leiden Bio Science Park

• Keynote opening presentation
  

  Jasper Levink, newly appointed CEO of Khondrion, will share his vision for leading the company’s next phase of growth in mitochondrial medicine. Building on a strong scientific foundation and clinical pipeline, he will outline priorities for advancing therapies to patients, fostering collaborations across the life sciences sector, and scaling Khondrion’s impact in rare disease innovation in the Netherlands and beyond.

• Venture Challenge
  

  Hosted by Health~Holland

  The winner of the Venture Challenge Fall 2025 will be announced. Meet the six teams!

10:35

Break

Time for networking and to visit the exhibition.

11:15

12:30

Lunch

Time for networking and to visit the exhibition.

13:00

Investors forum part 2 - lunch session -

Hosted by Johnson & Johnson Innovation

14:00

15:15

Break

Time for networking and to visit the exhibition.

16:00

Plenary closing program

• Wrap up conference
  

  Wrap up the conference, together with feedback from the audience.

• Announcement winner Investors Forum
  

  The winner of the Investors Forum will be awarded a partnering ticket (value EUR 2,500) and present their winning pitch.

• ´Placebo effects: from psychobiological underpinnings to novel clinical applications´
  

  Keynote presentation by Stefanie Meeuwis, Assistant Professor Tilburg University / Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden (IPS)

  Placebo effects are beneficial treatment outcomes, such as reduced pain, that are evoked by the context in which a treatment is provided. Stefanie’s keynote will focus on how a deeper understanding of these fascinating phenomena can help us design more effective treatments, enhance patient care, and responsibly harness their power to improve health and wellbeing.

• ´From investment banker to biotech entrepreneur´
  

  Closing keynote presentation by Ilan Ganot, CEO Alesta Therapeutics

  From investment banker to biotech entrepreneur, Ilan Ganot’s journey is fuelled by a deeply personal drive to turn science into hope for patients. As co-founder of Solid Biosciences in Boston and now CEO of Alesta Therapeutics in Leiden, he reflects on the challenges, lessons, and inspiration drawn from building companies in two very different life sciences ecosystems. His story is one of resilience, vision, and the belief that innovation can change lives.

17:15

Reception

Drinks, bites, networking and visit the exhibition!

18:30

End of conference