LogiPharma Europe 2025: The Real Work Behind the Annual Program

PC: How do you manage to keep the program itinerary organized year after year?

Robinson: While we have a broader global LogiPharma portfolio, my team now focuses solely on this event. These days, it’s a year-round project—365 days. Once this year’s event wraps, I’ll be thanking our speakers and delegates and immediately starting research conversations for 2026.

Before we even draft the agenda, we aim to conduct 150 to 200 hours of research calls. It’s far more insightful than using something like ChatGPT—helpful as that may be. These early conversations aren’t speaker invitations—they’re 30-minute chats that help us understand what’s really happening behind the scenes. And from those, the right speaker invitations naturally follow.

Full Interview Summary: The decision to relocate the 2026 event to Vienna is driven by several strategic priorities. While the current venue in Lyon has served well, the Vienna location offers enhanced capabilities, particularly for hosting smaller, targeted focus groups—an increasingly important part of the event's agenda. These sessions cater to niche challenges or opportunities relevant to only a fraction of attendees but offer high value. Vienna’s strong sustainability credentials also align with the event's growing focus on environmental responsibility, allowing for a paperless setup and contributing to reduced carbon emissions.

Reflecting on the evolution of the program since moving to Lyon three years ago, two themes have rapidly risen to prominence: artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability. AI, especially in areas like machine learning and automation, has seen explosive growth, with a surge in real-world applications across the industry. Likewise, sustainability efforts from major pharma players such as AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer have become increasingly ambitious, moving from general goals to actionable, large-scale initiatives.

The scale of the event has also expanded, with over 350 speakers this year. Behind the scenes, the team operates year-round, beginning research conversations immediately after each event to inform the next agenda. These interviews—up to 200 hours’ worth—are invaluable for uncovering the true challenges and innovations shaping the sector.

Looking ahead to 2026, emerging concerns include geopolitical instability and the need for increased agility in the face of unpredictable disruptions. Scenario planning and ensuring business continuity amid global uncertainty are expected to be major talking points. M&A activity is another rising theme, not only among pharma companies but across the broader supply chain, prompting new questions about integration and operational alignment post-acquisition. These shifts suggest a continued expansion of the event's scope and relevance.