
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
•
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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
•
-
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




































