SynBioBeta Speaker

Soren Flygenring Basset

Lonza

Exec Dir, Head of Innovation

Søren Basset is Executive Director and Head of Innovation for Integrated Biologics at Lonza, where he leads efforts to advance next-generation biologics development and manufacturing. His work focuses on driving innovation across bioprocessing and integrated solutions, helping accelerate the delivery of complex biologic therapies at scale.

Sessions Featuring

Soren

This Year

Breakout Session

•

4:30 PM

-

5:15 PM

Human Health

Bridging Discovery and Delivery: Startup–Pharma Alliances for the AI Era

As biology becomes programmable and AI accelerates discovery, startups are generating breakthrough innovations at unprecedented speed. Yet translating these advances into real-world therapies still depends on effective collaboration with global pharmaceutical organizations. This session explores how the innovation ecosystem connects early-stage breakthroughs to scalable development, bringing together leaders from startup incubation, external innovation, and pharma strategy. Speakers will examine how AI-native biotech companies engage with pharma today: how startups become “pharma-ready,” how external innovation teams evaluate and structure partnerships, and what collaboration models are emerging as biology and computation converge. From early ecosystem support and venture building to strategic alliances and co-development pathways, the discussion will provide a practical look at how ideas move from discovery to patient impact in the AI era.

Featuring

Ekaterine Kortkhonjia

J&J

Sr. Dir, Transactions

Big-pharma dealmaker scouting early AI/data-science partnerships.

Soren Flygenring Basset

Lonza

Exec Dir, Head of Innovation

Sonal Pai

Bristol Myers Squibb

Sr Dir, AI/Digital Ext. Innovation & Partnering

Kristina Kitko

Eli Lilly

Director of Venture

Zach Cogan

Nucleate HQ

President Emeritus

Breakout Session

•

4:30 PM

-

5:15 PM

Human Health

Bridging Discovery and Delivery: Startup–Pharma Alliances for the AI Era

As biology becomes programmable and AI accelerates discovery, startups are generating breakthrough innovations at unprecedented speed. Yet translating these advances into real-world therapies still depends on effective collaboration with global pharmaceutical organizations. This session explores how the innovation ecosystem connects early-stage breakthroughs to scalable development, bringing together leaders from startup incubation, external innovation, and pharma strategy. Speakers will examine how AI-native biotech companies engage with pharma today: how startups become “pharma-ready,” how external innovation teams evaluate and structure partnerships, and what collaboration models are emerging as biology and computation converge. From early ecosystem support and venture building to strategic alliances and co-development pathways, the discussion will provide a practical look at how ideas move from discovery to patient impact in the AI era.

Featuring

Ekaterine Kortkhonjia

J&J

Sr. Dir, Transactions

Big-pharma dealmaker scouting early AI/data-science partnerships.

Soren Flygenring Basset

Lonza

Exec Dir, Head of Innovation

Sonal Pai

Bristol Myers Squibb

Sr Dir, AI/Digital Ext. Innovation & Partnering

Kristina Kitko

Eli Lilly

Director of Venture

Zach Cogan

Nucleate HQ

President Emeritus

Previous Speakers Include