BioHubNet annual symposium

2026 Annual Symposium & Training Week

The Future Workforce: skills, leadership, and innovation in a changing world.

View preliminary program 2025 recap

Why gather

Talent, technology, and the people moving life sciences forward.

BioHubNet’s Annual Symposium brings Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences community together to connect emerging talent with employers, training partners, innovators, and academic leaders.

200+Participants expected across HQP, academia, industry, training, startup, and innovation communities.

3BioHubNet program pillars threaded through the day: ENGAGE, EXPERIENCE, and EQUIP.

20Exhibitor and conversation spaces are being planned to support active networking.

4Core themes: AI, advanced biomanufacturing, health innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Preliminary program

A day built for movement, exchange, and practical direction.

The 2026 program is being shaped around longer networking breaks, structured industry conversations, applied career insight, and visible pathways into Canada’s life sciences workforce.

8:30 - 9:15

Breakfast & registration

Arrival, name badge pickup, exhibitor booths, and early networking.

9:15 - 10:15

Welcome & keynote

Opening remarks, BioHubNet year at a glance, and a keynote on talent for the future in an era of technological transformation.

10:15 - 12:30

Panels & program highlights

Sessions in development include AI in the workplace, emerging skills, hidden career pathways, and BioHubNet ENGAGE highlights with HQP voices.

12:30 - 1:30

Lunch & exhibitor booths

A working lunch designed to keep participants moving between booths, partners, and informal conversations.

1:30 - 3:00

Structured networking

Rotating conversations with industry professionals, BioHubNet partners, and collaboration tables aligned to career and ecosystem pathways.

3:00 - 4:30

Coffee, EXPERIENCE / EQUIP highlights & VentureLift showcase

Program updates, HQP testimonials, and short VentureLift presentations from emerging life sciences ventures.

4:30 - 6:00

Closing panel & networking reception

A final discussion and reception to continue conversations with peers, speakers, employers, and partners.

Program timing and session titles are preliminary and will be updated as speakers, registration, and partner activities are confirmed.

Training Week

Applied learning before the symposium.

Training Week activities are being developed for October 26-29, with workshops, site visits, professional development, and entrepreneurship programming designed to help HQP arrive ready to connect.

Company tours & facility visits

Potential destinations include OmniaBio, Eurofins CDMO Alphora, Microbix Biosystems, Apotex, CCRM, and U of T high-containment or bioprocessing facilities.

Technical and immersive training

Concepts under development include BioZone bioprocessing, VR training, and short applied sessions connected to biomanufacturing workforce needs.

Professional development

Sessions may include communication that opens doors, strategic networking in life sciences, elevator pitch development, resume translation, and interview practice.

Entrepreneurship and founder conversations

Founder circle and pitch-focused programming are being explored for EQUIP participants and emerging life sciences ventures.

Venue

Chelsea Hotel, Toronto.

A downtown venue selected for central access, flexible meeting space, exhibitor flow, and proximity to Toronto’s life sciences and university ecosystem.

33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto, Ontario General session, exhibitor area, reception flow, green room, and event support spaces are in planning. Accommodation and registration details will be posted as they are confirmed.

Chelsea Hotel ballroom set with round tables and presentation screens

Wide panel session at the 2025 BioHubNet Annual Symposium

Panel speakers and audience at the 2025 BioHubNet Annual Symposium

Speaker presenting to the symposium audience

Presentation and audience view at the BioHubNet symposium

From 2025 to 2026

Building on a first-year signal.

The 2025 Annual Symposium and Training Week brought together trainees, collaborators, speakers, employers, training partners, and founders around the talent pipeline Canada needs for biomanufacturing and life sciences.

Training ecosystemSeven trainings, tours, and bootcamp experiences helped show the breadth of applied learning across the network.

Career readinessPanels emphasized communication, documentation, GMP mindset, AI literacy, and translating academic experience into industry language.

Venture momentumEQUIP VentureLift awardees showcased early life sciences ventures moving from research insight toward clinical, regulatory, and market milestones.

2026 directionThe next symposium sharpens the focus on structured networking, national talent coordination, and future-facing workforce skills.

BioHubNet Annual Symposium speaker at the podium

Symposium presentation with audience and screen

Trainee speaker at the 2025 BioHubNet Annual Symposium

Panelist speaking during the 2025 symposium

Industry panelist at the 2025 BioHubNet Annual Symposium

BioHubNet speaker presenting with audience in foreground

Official YouTube archive

Watch moments from last year.

BioHubNet’s official YouTube channel includes the 2025 Annual Symposium highlight reel and session uploads from last year’s program. These links open the original videos on YouTube.

Thumbnail for BioHubNet 2025 Annual Symposium and Training Week Highlight

26 Nov 2025

BioHubNet 2025 Annual Symposium & Training Week Highlight

The main official highlight video from the 2025 symposium and training week.