Strengthening the dialogue between research, universities, businesses, and institutions to accelerate the development of life sciences in Lazio. This is the goal of the Life Science Business Forum 2026, which took place at the Hall of the Temple of Hadrian in Rome, promoted by Lazio region e Lazio Innova in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ICE agency, An industry, Chamber of Commerce of Rome e Assobiotec, together with the main players in the sector at regional, national and international level.
The initiative provided an opportunity for discussion and networking among businesses, investors, innovative startups, SMEs, research centers, and institutions, with the aim of identifying new collaboration opportunities and fostering the growth of an increasingly competitive ecosystem in the European Life Sciences landscape.
Representatives of the institutions and the manufacturing world spoke during the day, including Roberta Angelilli, Vice President and Councillor for Economic Development of the Lazio Region, Massimo Scaccabarozzi, president of the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Section of Unindustria, Lorenzo Tagliavanti, president of the Rome Chamber of Commerce, Luciano Ciocchetti, co-president of the "One Health" inter-parliamentary group of the Chamber of Deputies, and Sergio Strozzi, Head of Innovation, Technology and Startups at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
During the Forum, some of the leading companies in the Life Sciences sector presented strategies and results in various areas of innovation. Among the companies involved: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Zambon, Angelini Pharma, Menarini Biotech, and Novo Nordisk.
There was also space for local startups and innovative SMEs: 35 companies from Lazio engaged with industrial groups and investors through two Open Innovation roundtables dedicated to technology transfer in research and applied artificial intelligence. This was a concrete opportunity to foster new partnerships, investments, and shared growth paths.
During the event, the Rector of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, prof. Rocco Papalia, presented the Report The Life Science Ecosystem in the Lazio Region – Development Prospects for the Biotech and Pharma Sectors", edited on behalf of Lazio Innova. The study provides an updated snapshot of a strategic sector for the regional territory: the Life Science ecosystem of Lazio includes 176 companies active in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, 10 universities, 5 national research centers and 8 IRCCS, for a total of over 21 thousand employees and an aggregate turnover in 2025 equal to 9,42 billion euros.
The Report also highlights the sector's strong dynamism, supported by the presence of innovative startups and SMEs, which represent over 70% of the companies analyzed. More than 60% of the startups surveyed are registered in the Register of Innovative Startups, a percentage higher than the national average. The document also highlights how 33% of the large companies involved use external startups to carry out research projects, while 22% collaborate with specialized SMEs.
Particular emphasis is given to the investments activated by the Lazio Region: in the two-year period 2025-2026, resources exceeding the 300 million euro, through tools dedicated to the development of technological supply chains, internationalization, technology transfer, and the creation of new innovative startups.
Il Life Science Business Forum 2026 This confirms Lazio's role as one of Europe's leading hubs for life sciences and technological innovation, thanks to collaboration between institutions, the manufacturing sector, universities, and research.
For theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, participation in the initiative represents a further contribution to the valorization of technology transfer and the construction of an ecosystem capable of transforming scientific research into innovation at the service of society.
