CONFERENCE DAY TWO
Thursday, December 4
Breakfast Briefing
8:30 am Embracing AI Innovation While Navigating Compliance & Risk in Biopharma Procurement
Synopsis
- Build frameworks to accelerate AI adoption by streamlining cross-functional committee approvals and compliance checks
- Hear insights on emerging AI tool trends in R&D, particularly those gaining traction on the West Coast and in San Francisco – a city where founders from around the world come to launch their ventures
- Discover innovative applications such as AI-powered bioinformatics tools, and AI media formulation tools, recently seen in the field
- Understand that evaluating whether AI tool founders have the right team and technical background is essential to identifying high-potential solutions
10:15 am Check-in & Morning Coffee
10:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Upgrading Negotiation, Risk Management, & Procurement Models to Drive Long-Term Cost Savings
11:00 am Using Smarter Cost of Ownership Negotiation to Maximize Value in a Tight Market
Synopsis
- Focus negotiations on total value by requesting bundled services or flexible terms when price reductions are off the table
- Protect your organization from long-term risk and increased inflation by structuring contracts with flexible terms
- Strengthen vendor accountability by aligning service level agreements with clear performance metrics and reinforcing them through tailored business reviews
- Exploring the implications of changing regulatory demands to ensure compliance
11:30 am Supply Chain Traceability Tactics to Strengthen Supplier Risk Control
Synopsis
- Prevent hidden costs and mitigate miscellaneous costs by demanding full chain of custody to validate surcharges and protect margins
- Reduce supplier-related risk by identifying and actively managing high-risk aspects of your supply network such as tariffs, freight, and currency exchange risk
- Future-proof sourcing by shifting toward regionalized supply chains, transparency in cost build out
12:00 pm Roundtable Discussion: Building Smarter Procurement Functions for Your Business Goals
Synopsis
A two-part roundtable exploring how both small and large Biopharma organizations can evolve their procurement models to meet business goals, from scale-up readiness to enterprise optimization
- Explore how you could build scalable procurement and sourcing functions that support clinical development and attract investment or acquisition
- Brainstorm strategies to streamline centralized procurement operations and align sourcing with broader commercial and organizational objectives
- Tools, technologies, and change management approaches to unify purchasing and outsourcing teams while gaining stakeholder buy-in
12:30 pm Lunch Break & Networking
Effectively Managing Supplier Relationships to Build Partnerships, Not Just Contracts
1:30 pm Practical Ideas for Improving Supplier Performance, Transparency, & Procurement Process Efficiency
Synopsis
- Improve risk visibility and control by building transparent supplier communication and governance models
- Enhance cost savings and forecasting through integrated planning and joint value creation initiatives
- Streamline sourcing operations by embedding supplier insights into planning, budgeting, and trial execution
- Build trust and accountability through consistent performance metrics and collaborative problem-solving
2:00 pm Driving Value in Clinical Development: Strategic Vendor Partnerships and MSAs
Synopsis
- The strategic case for preferred partnerships: when they work, and why they matter
- Business-focused benefits of MSAs – plus negotiation tips and common pitfalls to avoid
- How to ensure competitive pricing, manage vendor performance, and protect against under delivery
2:30 pm Afternoon Break & Networking
Developing a Scalable Procurement Model for Smooth Transition into Commercial Phase
3:00 pm Laying the Groundwork for Scalable Sourcing Ahead of Commercialization
Synopsis
- Leveraging approaches and best practices within and outside biopharma
- Evaluate and implement systems and frameworks that scale before commercial pressure hits
- Accelerate readiness by exploring and modeling infrastructure for both internal and external manufacturing needs
- Cultivate early-stage trust and alignment across functions to focus on core competencies, capabilities, and priorities—positioning procurement as a catalyst for value
3:30 pm Building Scalable Procurement & Sourcing Teams that Meet Business Goals
Synopsis
- Improve sourcing outcomes by partnering early with stakeholders to align on value drivers and success metrics
- Accelerate stakeholder trust by aligning functional needs with business priorities
- Introduce structured yet flexible procurement processes that empower teams and standardize best practices