Explore the Agenda
7:00 am Check In & Coffee
7:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Optimizing Vendor Management to Drive Efficiency, Compliance, & Strategic Value in R&D Procurement
8:00 am Aligning Supplier Performance Metrics to Strengthen Partnerships & Improve Delivery Outcomes
- Designing fair and transparent KPIs that incentivize collaboration rather than compliance
- Implementing shared performance dashboards to monitor delivery, innovation, and responsiveness
- Leveraging data insights to identify high-performing suppliers and address underperformance early
8:30 am How Scientist.com Became Sanofi’s Procurement Execution Engine
- Learn how top pharma are using Scientist.com's digital platform to expand into complex spend areas and better manage preferred supplier programs
- See how Scientist.com combines AI-driven intelligence with a single sourcing channel to streamline the path from discovery to delivery
- Discover how Scientist.com's business intelligence has evolved from reporting structured data to delivering predictive, actionable insights.
9:00 am Optimizing Supplier Relationship Management to Drive Transparency, Efficiency, & Lasting Performance
- Implementing structured SRM frameworks that enhance visibility, communication, and accountability across suppliers
- Leveraging data and shared performance dashboards to identify bottlenecks and improve process efficiency in real time
- Embedding continuous improvement practices to transform supplier relationships into long-term, innovation-focused partnerships
9:30 am The Nova Framework: Evolving From Preferred Provider to Strategic Partner: Building Long-Term Governance Models for Sustainable CRO Collaboration
- Exploring the shift from transactional outsourcing to strategic, value-driven CRO partnerships that enhance collaboration and mutual growth
- Demonstrating how cross-functional leadership can simplify operational complexity and create a scalable, innovative-focused partnership model
- Showcasing approaches to embed ethical and environmental responsibility into CRO alliances to drive sustainable R&D excellence
10:00 am Morning Break & Speed Networking
Join our speed networking session tailored for procurement leaders, like yourselves, to connect with industry peers & facilitating rapid yet meaningful exchanges of insights & expertise. Elevate your networking experience during this session designed for impactful connections among procurement leaders
Track A: Leading Procurement
Strengthening Strategic Procurement to Navigate Risk, Influence Innovation & Build Resilient Partnerships
11:00 am Navigating Geopolitical Risks to Ensure Continuity in Global R&D Procurement
- Identifying emerging political, regulatory, and market risks that disrupt supplier networks
- Implementing proactive strategies to mitigate interruptionsm and maintain research timelines
- Leveraging risk intelligence to strengthen supplier resilience and ensure uninterrupted R&D operations
11:30 am Embedding Strategic Procurement to Align with Business Goals, Influence R&D Decisions, & Accelerate Innovation
- Aligning procurement with clinical, scientific, and business priorities to drive informed decisions
- Shifting from transactional processes to strategic sourcing for higher-value outcomes
- Enhancing R&D speed and quality by integrating supplier insights into decision-making early
12:00 pm Maximizing Value in CRO Partnerships: Smarter Budgeting, Cost Optimization & Contract Negotiation Strategies
- Implementing effective budgeting frameworks to forecast study costs accurately and identify hidden savings opportunities
- Applying data-driven approaches to negotiate stronger terms with existing CRO partners while maintaining collaboration and quality
- Leveraging long-term relationship management to drive continuous cost reductions without compromising scientific or operational outcomes
Track B: Executing Procurement
Optimizing Procurement Operations to Maximize Efficiency, Compliance & Supplier Performance
11:00 am Optimizing R&D Contract Frameworks to Accelerate Delivery & Strengthen Supplier Partnerships
- Streamlining legal, procurement, and operational touchpoints to reduce delays and improve cross-functional alignment
- Designing contract structures that balance innovation needs with clear risk, cost, and performance expectations
- Implementing proactive governance and supplier engagement models to ensure adaptability and sustained value throughout the project lifecycle
11:30 am Navigating Contracting Challenges to Secure Favorable Terms & Reduce Operational Friction
- Identifying common bottlenecks and pitfalls in R&D procurement contracts
- Applying proven strategies for faster negotiations and smoother approvals
- Ensuring contracts support flexibility, compliance, and value realization across complex projects
12:00 pm Maximizing Limited Resources in Biotech Procurement Teams to Drive Operational Efficiency
- Prioritizing high-impact sourcing activities when team capacity is constrained
- Leveraging streamlined workflows and tools to achieve more with fewer resources
- Building scalable processes that support growth without adding headcount
12:30 pm Lunch & Networking
Track A: Leading Procurement
Evolving Procurement’s Identity to Drive Innovation, Agility & Strategic Impact in R&D
1:30 pm Earning a Seat at the Table: How to Influence R&D Decisions & Three Strategic Levers to Drive Cost-Efficient Innovation
- How to earn a seat at the table through strategic insights, collaboration, and developing a track record of delivering high-impact results
- Elevating procurement’s role from transactional to strategic to lead informed decision making and value creation
- Three strategies to accelerate innovation while delivering impactful cost reductions
2:00 pm Redefining Value Delivery for the Modern Life Sciences Customer: The Evolving Role of the Laboratory Distribution Partner
- How distribution partners are shifting from transactional fulfillment to strategic enablers of scientific discovery, accelerating research outcomes across the enterprise
- Leveraging digital procurement platforms, intelligent inventory management, and lab informatics integration to reduce operational complexity and speed time-to-market
- Building human-centered partnerships rooted in scientific expertise, measurable ROI, and scalable service models that grow with your organization
Track B: Executing Procurement
Streamlining Procurement Processes to Enhance Consistency, Value & Risk Management
1:30 pm Roundtable: Operationalizing Category Strategy Across Functions & Geographies to Achieve Consistency & Value
- Translating strategic category plans into actionable operational steps
- Coordinating cross-functional teams and global suppliers to ensure alignment
- Driving measurable cost savings, quality, and process improvements across all regions
2:00 pm Simplifying R&D Procurement Processes to Maintain Agility & Compliance in Complex Environments
- Discussing best practices for streamlining operational workflows
- Exploring trade-offs between process simplification and risk management
- Sharing real-world insights from pharma, biotech, and CRO leaders on delivering operational excellence
2:30 pm Afternoon Break & Networking
Tracking Internal & External KPIs to Solidify Procurement Teams & Supplier Relations
3:30 pm From Intake to Outcome: Reimagining R&D Procurement
R&D procurement leaders face a structural tension: scientists want speed and flexibility; procurement needs compliance and savings. Forcing one to bend to the other produces shadow spend on one side or rogue SOWs on the other. Neither is sustainable.
.Science Exchange and Oro Labs take a different approach. Together, the two platforms deliver a connected R&D buying experience that adapts to how people actually buy: meeting scientific buyers where they are, while standardizing the procurement process underneath. The result is a single workflow that delivers speed for scientists and compliance for procurement, without asking either side to compromise.
.Science Exchange CEO Mark Layden hosts a conversation with Tom Smolko (Oro Labs) and Brandon Dunn (Science Exchange) on the joint architecture, what each platform does, how they connect, and the design principles behind the integration.
4:00 pm Roundtable: Building the Next Generation of Procurement Leadership & Transforming for Long-Term Success
- Exploring what defines a world-class procurement organization in today’s R&D and sourcing landscape
- Developing future-ready leaders equipped to balance innovation, compliance, and strategic impact
- Sharing best practices for driving procurement transformation through culture, capability, and collaboration
4:30 pm Panel: The Future of Lab Procurement at Scale: Guided Buying, Supplier Orchestration, and Enterprise Impact
- How scientists can move from an idea to a fully configured cart in seconds
- How procurement gains control, compliance, and visibility without slowing research
- How suppliers (including partners like Thermo Fisher Scientific) remain deeply integrated in a more structured, transparent ecosystem
5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks
5:10 pm End of Conference Day One
5:20 pm Zageno Drinks Reception
Drinks reception hosted by Zageno, a chance to unwind, continue conversations, and strengthen partnerships.