Meeting scheduling for BIO 2026 is officially underway, marking the start of one of the most active periods on the road to the convention, which takes place June 22–25 in San Diego. According to the BIO International Convention, thousands of biotech and pharma companies are already active in the partnering system and accepting meeting requests, with early movers positioned to secure time with the partners most relevant to their pipelines and business goals.
A partnering system built for early action
BIO Partnering™, the convention’s dedicated meeting-scheduling platform, allows registered attendees to identify companies by focus area and partnering interests, then request and confirm one-on-one meetings well before the convention floor opens. Access to the platform is tied to Premier Access registration, and BIO has emphasized that the earlier companies engage with the system, the better their chances of locking in meetings with high-demand partners as calendars fill up in the weeks leading up to the event.
BIO members receive additional savings on registration, and organizations that are not yet members can explore the broader set of benefits membership provides beyond discounted access to partnering and other convention programming.
Featured pharma teams ready to connect
Among the companies BIO has spotlighted as actively participating in the partnering system are several of the industry’s largest and most established players: Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Genentech, and Sanofi. Attendees can explore each company’s profile within the platform to review its focus areas, partnering interests, and specific opportunities for collaboration before requesting a meeting, allowing for more targeted and productive conversations once meetings are confirmed.
The presence of these companies on the partnering system this early in the scheduling window reflects the significant business development activity that takes place around BIO each year, as pharmaceutical companies look to identify licensing opportunities, co-development partners, and emerging technologies from across the global biotech landscape.
Sponsor support behind BIO 2026
The convention’s Double Helix Sponsors for 2026 include Amgen, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Merck, Sanofi, and VWR Part of Avantor, representing six of the most significant organizations across the pharmaceutical and life sciences supply landscape. Helix Sponsors include Boehringer Ingelheim and Novo Nordisk. The support of these sponsors underpins much of BIO’s programming, including the partnering infrastructure that connects thousands of companies throughout the convention.
Getting started
Companies and individuals looking to take part in BIO Partnering™ can register for Premier Access to unlock the platform and begin requesting meetings immediately. With scheduling activity already underway among major pharma teams, BIO has encouraged prospective attendees to register and begin outreach early, rather than waiting until closer to the convention dates.
BIO 2026 will take place June 22–25 in San Diego, bringing together thousands of companies, researchers, investors, and patient advocates from across the global biotech community for a week of partnering, programming, and open-access experiences on the convention floor.