Biotech's Biggest Networking Event
North Carolina’s life sciences sector is packing its best lab coat and heading west! BIO 2026 International Convention, taking place June 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, is bringing together biotechnology and life sciences professionals from around the world for one of the industry’s largest annual gatherings.
For North Carolina, this isn’t just another badge-and-lanyard week. It’s a chance to put the state’s growing biotech economy in front of investors, company leaders, researchers, manufacturers, and site selectors who are all looking for the next smart place to grow.
BIO's 2026 program includes more than 150 sessions across 18 focus areas, including multiple industry experts, which means attendees will have plenty to chew on besides conference coffee.
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center will focus on the state’s diverse life sciences ecosystem, connecting companies, researchers, investors, and economic development leaders with the kind of conversations that can turn into partnerships, funding, expansions, and new jobs back home. The hours for the North Carolina Pavilion, located in exhibit booth #5235, are below:
- June 22: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- June 23: 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- June 24: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- June 25: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
In addition, the North Carolina Reception will be held on June 23 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Why North Carolina Belongs in the Room
North Carolina has been building its life sciences reputation for decades, especially across the Research Triangle, but the story now stretches well beyond Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Biomanufacturing, clinical research, agriculture technology, diagnostics, medical devices, and workforce training all play a role in the state’s pitch.
That matters because biotech growth is no longer just about who has the brightest idea in the lab. Companies need trained workers, reliable manufacturing capacity, strong research partners, and communities that understand what this industry requires. North Carolina has been steadily checking those boxes, from university research pipelines to community college training programs designed to move people into highly specialized jobs.
For local companies, BIO 2026 offers direct access to potential customers, collaborators, investors, and global partners. For economic development leaders, it’s a chance to make the case that North Carolina can support both startups looking for traction and established companies planning their next expansion.
In a field where one good meeting can change a company’s path, showing up matters. North Carolina’s presence at BIO 2026 reinforces something the state has been working to prove for years: life sciences aren’t a side note in the economy here. They’re a serious growth engine, and the rest of the industry is being invited to take a closer look.
Explore more manufacturing moves across the state at https://www.guidetonc.com/manufacturing!
