iC³: Innovation = Capital x Collaboration x Commercialization

Rising Stars are Texas-based companies tackling the biggest challenges in healthcare and life sciences that exhibit recent groundbreaking advancements.

Listen to the next generation of leaders in the industry who have demonstrated exceptional success in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving landscape.

The Tech Transfer Showcase brings academic innovations to the forefront, connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to turn ideas into impact. This session offers a platform for institutions to engage with strategic partners, explore funding opportunities, and accelerate the path from lab to market—while inspiring the next generation of leaders in science and technology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving the next wave of innovation in biotech, unlocking new possibilities in drug discovery, diagnostics, and personalized medicine.

This session will explore how AI is accelerating research, improving outcomes, and reshaping the biotech landscape.

Discover the transformative impact of AI technologies and how they are paving the way for a new era in biotechnology.

As biology and technology accelerate toward deeper integration, the boundaries between innovation, infrastructure, and national security are dissolving. AI-enabled research, cyber-physical systems in biomanufacturing, and globally distributed supply chains are redefining what it means to operate—and lead—in life sciences today.

This high-level general session gathers distinguished executives and thought leaders across biotech, MedTech, defense, and investment for a roundtable unlike any before it. At the center: a timely discussion on how to protect the future of innovation itself in an increasingly complex world shaped by the emerging Bio Secure Act, the weaponization of data, and growing geopolitical pressures.

 We will explore how organizations at the cutting edge are building resilience into the very architecture of discovery—through secure data environments, strategic partnerships, and bold new frameworks for risk mitigation. This is more than a conversation about innovation—it is about ensuring what we build lasts.

Join us for an insightful investor-focused session, where industry leaders and experts will delve into the current landscape of capital raising and transactions within the life sciences sector.

Our distinguished panelists will share their expertise on navigating the fundraising environment, complexities of IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and other capital market strategies. The discussion will explore the challenges and opportunities in securing investment, the evolving dynamics of the capital markets, and strategic approaches to successful fundraising.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into the latest trends, investor expectations, and innovative strategies to navigate the complex environment of capital raising in the life sciences industry. Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the field, this session promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in today's competitive market.

As global health concerns evolve—from aging and health span to public health emergencies to biomanufacturing vulnerabilities—America’s ability to respond with speed and precision depends on strong, agile innovation ecosystems.

This panel features leaders from Advanced Technology International (ATI)’s diverse portfolio of medical and health focused consortia, which represents a cross-sector engine for innovation—accelerating the development and delivery of medical advancements, diagnostics, secure supply chains, and scalable biomanufacturing.

Panelists will share how these novel public-private partnership models are transforming the government’s ability to identify needs, engage nontraditional performers, and deploy real-world solutions to meet national health priorities.

The 35th edition of the EY Biotech Beyond Borders Report finds that biopharma companies continue to face not only a challenging financing environment but also a rapidly changing political landscape. To succeed, decision-makers need to adapt their business models and operational strategies to fit today’s new norm.

The Texas Edition of EY’s Biotech Beyond Borders Report offers an in-depth look at our exciting public market biotech landscape.

As cell and gene therapies move from clinical trials into mainstream care, understanding the fundamentals of biomanufacturing is essential for anyone participating in the life sciences ecosystem.

This session offers a clear, accessible primer on the processes, platforms, and requirements behind biologics manufacturing—from regulatory frameworks to cleanroom infrastructure, quality systems, and workforce demands.

Space’s unique microgravity environment is driving new breakthroughs in biotechnology and life sciences.

This session will focus on the latest innovations in space-based research, from drug development to tissue engineering, and explore the potential of conducting life sciences research in space. Learn about the opportunities and challenges of advancing biotech beyond Earth.

North Texas is establishing itself as a leader in innovative, resilient supply chain strategies that serve the broader life sciences, healthcare, and technology sectors. In a time when global logistics are increasingly tied to innovation outcomes, our region offers a unique convergence of infrastructure, industry partnerships, and entrepreneurial leadership shaping the future of supply systems.

Whether it is through the work of established hubs, collaborations with global platforms, or visionary entrepreneurs is charting new pathways in supply chain design, security, and sustainability. From precision logistics to novel distribution models, the region is redefining what it means to move critical products, knowledge, and technologies across the world.

A vibrant life sciences community depends on the power of the place. Regional leaders have recognized the benefit of bringing together resources, including research institutions, entrepreneurs, corporate partners, investors and nonprofits, to promote interactions -- some unexpected -- and spur growth.

North Texas has seen a wave of place-based innovation in life sciences. Recent successes include Pegasus Park in Dallas, which connects academic researchers, startups, investors and ecosystem partners; and Texas A&M's new campus in Fort Worth, which will bring industry together with multiple universities, departments and state agencies in an innovation district to transform the city's downtown.

Medical devices are entering a new era—where precision engineering, digital integration, and patient-centered innovation are accelerating breakthroughs across diagnostics, treatment, and long-term care. In this session, we explore how next-generation technologies—from AI-powered wearables to smart surgical platforms—are not only advancing clinical capabilities, but also reshaping how we deliver, monitor, and personalize care.

This conversation will also explore the broader innovation ecosystem—including regulatory trends, commercialization pathways, and digital health strategy—necessary to bring these devices from concept to bedside. With insights from leading thinkers in tech, consulting, research, and manufacturing, this panel showcases how North Texas and global collaborators are helping lead this transformation in MedTech innovation.

As federal priorities shift, access to non-dilutive funding and preclinical support is more critical—and complex—than ever.

This session brings together experts from D.C., academia, and state agencies to demystify the evolving landscape.

Learn how to navigate federal grants, tap into emerging resources, and align your work for long-term, mission-driven growth.

Innovation districts are more than physical spaces—they are catalysts for human potential.

This forward-looking session brings together a diverse panel of architects, scientists, researchers, and policymakers to explore how thoughtfully designed districts can fuel brain health, unlock cognitive capital, and inspire a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and breakthrough innovation.

Patient advocacy ensures individuals receive the care and support they need, but true impact happens when businesses integrate patient needs into their strategies.

This session will explore how advocacy and patient-centered business models drive better healthcare outcomes.

As biotech and life sciences accelerate driven by AI, personalized medicine, and advanced therapeutics—the demand for skilled, future-ready talent is surging.

This session explores how North Texas is connecting education with opportunity to build a strong regional talent pipeline and position itself as a full-spectrum innovation hub.

Cell and gene therapies are unlocking new frontiers in medicine, offering hope for conditions once considered untreatable.

This session will dive into the transformative potential of these therapies, exploring breakthroughs in genetic medicine, the challenges of scaling and regulation, and the future impact on patient care.

As North Texas emerges as a strategic hub for cell and gene therapy manufacturing, the question is no longer “what is possible”—but “how do we scale and sustain it?”

This session brings together national and regional leaders to explore the future of biomanufacturing across cost, capacity, talent, and technology. From modular facilities to AI-integrated production lines, from public-private partnerships to accelerated timelines for rare disease therapies, we’ll examine the strategies required to move from innovation to impact at scale.With a focus on building resilient, future-ready infrastructure, this conversation will also consider what’s needed regionally to secure a lasting competitive advantage in a global biomanufacturing economy.