10th Life Science Symposium

Tobias Gantner is the founder of HealthCare Futurists and a passionate thought leader for better healthcare. He stands for a system that acts instead of waits, puts people at the center, and uses technology as a tool for more justice. Trained in medicine, law, philosophy,y and health economics, he decided not to pursue a traditional career. Instead, he develops real solutions such as mobile clinics without doctors, AI tools for care, and playful prevention concepts. The WHO ranks him among the 50 most essential experts in digital health worldwide, and the press calls him the “Q of medicine”. What drives him? The conviction that health needs to be rethought - courageously, curiously, and together. 

Prof. Dr. Linda Chalupová is a sustainability expert, author, keynote speaker, and certified supervisory board member with a focus on sustainable business. As a professor of sustainability science at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, she combines academic expertise with hands-on implementation in business practice. She advises companies and trains decision-makers on sustainable leadership, ESG strategy, and the use of digital technologies such as AI and data governance to meet ESG challenges. She is an active member of several expert committees, including the Sustainability Committee at the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce, the DGQ Sustainability Circle, and various DIN and ISO working groups, e.g. among them the development of the new ISO 53001.

Dr. Klaus Suwelack is a seasoned leader in pharmaceutical innovation. With over two decades of experience, he has been pivotal in building integrated clinical ecosystems that connect end-to-end process chains with cross-functional collaboration at companies like Janssen and J&J, all powered by modern technology. He played a central role in initiatives like “The New Health Care Innovation Puzzle,” which brings together partners across sectors to develop patient-centered solutions. Additionally, he supports biotech and digital health startups, helping them navigate early-stage development and clinical entry. Dr. Suwelack’s work continues to shape the future of pharmaceutical R&D through seamless integration and innovation.

Bryn is COO of Connected Discovery, a consulting-based SME, and has broad experience with large pharmaceutical companies, public initiatives, and start-ups - focusing on idea generation, target validation, and data-driven early-stage research. Previously, he was SVP Drug Discovery at Benevolent AI, leading data science and AI-driven approaches to developing new drug targets. Before that, he led the Open PHACTS project and is CEO of the foundation of the same name, pioneering the integration of interoperable life science data and advancing the FAIR data principles. Bryn began his career at Pfizer, spending nearly 20 years in various research and bioinformatics roles.

Peter Soelkner is CEO / Managing Director of Vetter Pharma, a global leader in the aseptic filling and packaging of injectable drugs. In over 17 years in a senior management role - as CEO since May 2025 - he has increased sales tenfold and significantly expanded the company's international presence, particularly in the USA. Under his leadership, Vetter has become a key partner for complex injectables. With 19 years of experience in the US, Peter brings deep expertise in international biopharma partnerships. He is also Vice Chair at Oxford Biomedica, Non-Executive Director at Coriolis Pharma, and Operating Partner at Advent International - roles in which he combines science, operations, and investment with a global perspective.

Andreas Axmann is an international award-winning digital entertainer. His career began classically with a magic box for Christmas and his admission to the “Magic Circle” in 2002. In 2004, he moved to Berlin to study theater and event technology, which he completed in 2008 with a diploma thesis on magic theater. Since then, magic has been his primary profession. In 2010, he became the first German iPad magician specializing in digital magic. In 2011, he became German runner-up in “Magic with Performance” and was invited to Las Vegas for the first time. In 2022, he celebrated 30 years on stage and has since devoted himself increasingly to topics such as human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence, and the metaverse.

Christoph Kuch inspires audiences around the world with his mental magic and amazing illusions. Born in Nuremberg, he is a world champion magician in the field of mental magic and has also impressed audiences in the US show "Penn & Teller: Fool Us". His shows take him through Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA.

Fascinated by magic since childhood, he became German Champion in 2011 and won the World Championships in Blackpool in 2012. This was followed by performances at the legendary Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

With humor, charm and excitement, he inspires in his shows "Ich weiß." and "Macht verrückt" as well as at events and galas. As a speaker, he talks about perception and self-deception. He is also the author of the bestseller "Don't be superstitious, it's bad luck!" and has appeared in numerous TV shows.

Photo: Jean Ferry

Dr. Sven Jungmann is a doctor, innovation expert and founder of a medical AI start-up. In addition to and after his clinical work in pneumology and the emergency department at Helios and Charité, he has been dedicated to the digital transformation of the healthcare sector for over 10 years. He has advised companies such as Audi, Gothaer, Roche and a Kuwaiti pharmacy chain on digital healthcare innovation. Handelsblatt listed him among Germany's 100 brightest minds back in 2017. In 2022, he won the EUR 25,000 Digital Health Award for an innovation in the field of AI-driven diagnostics. Jungmann is also an investor himself and sits on the medical advisory board of venture capitalist SpeedInvest. He also enjoys writing on the subject of healthcare innovation, for example in his book published by Penguin RandomHouse or in a thesis paper on "Shared Decision Making in the Age of AI" published with Roche's Independent Patient Council. In addition to medicine, he also studied public health at LSHTM, public policy at Oxford and entrepreneurship at Cambridge.

Photo: Frank Nürnberger

Frank Dullweber is an experienced life science professional. Due to his long-term experience in pharmaceutical research, he has an in-depth understanding of data domains relevant to pre-clinical and clinical drug discovery and clinical development. He graduated with a PhD in cheminformatics and obtained a master's degree in clinical research management. Until recently, he worked in bioinformatics and is now a member of the Center of Excellence for Digital Transformation in the clinical development domain.

Dr. Felix Lenk studied automation and control engineering at the Technical University of Dresden, where he also completed his doctorate and established and headed the SmartLab Systems research group. He is the founder and Managing Director of SmartLab Solutions GmbH and amensio GmbH - two high-tech start-ups for laboratory digitization.

He works as an honorary expert and consultant for the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the industry association Spectaris e.V. and the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS).

Oliver is an experienced project manager and consultant with 13 years of experience in the life sciences sector. He specializes in the implementation and integration of various systems, including quality management systems (QMS), electronic data capture (EDC) and regulatory information management (RIM). As a generalist with a technical background, Oliver has developed a comprehensive understanding of processes, business areas and systems that allows him to take a holistic perspective. His diverse client portfolio includes pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers and regulatory authorities.

Martin Zacharias is Manager for Products and Consulting in the Life Science division at Arvato Systems. He has been with the Bertelsmann Group since 2003 and has extensive experience in consulting, product management, and digital transformation. From 2010 to 2014, he managed projects in the telecommunications sector with a focus on billing and payment processes. He joined Arvato Systems in 2014 and played a central role in national drug verification. As Product Owner, he was responsible for developing the National Verification System from 2017 to 2023. In 2024, he took over as Head of Products & Consulting for Life Science, where he drives innovation and regulatory compliance in the healthcare sector.

Meet Daniel C. Baumgart, MD, PhD, MBA - a world-leading expert on digital transformation in medicine and healthcare. As Professor of Medicine and Associate Professor of Informatics at the University of Alberta, he leads From Data to Decision (FD2D), a Canadian government-funded international research and education program that brings together experts from 22 leading institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in three G7 countries in digital innovation, including AI, he is driving the future of precision health and personalized medicine.

Dr. Alexander Roth is Director Data & AI at Arvato Systems and has more than 15 years of experience in the data and AI industry. Together with his team, he supports companies in maximizing the value of data, automating business processes and realizing sustainable innovations in order to efficiently shape the digital transformation. In his webinar, he presents the AI companion program, which supports IT managers in establishing AI permanently and holistically in their company.

Andreea Stanescu is the founder of Originate LAB and a transformation expert with over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. She started her career in consulting and M&A before focusing on operational transformation.

Andreea is certified in strategic future planning and change management. She helps organizations develop adaptive models that align compliance and innovation. She supports clients in creating transformation roadmaps, simplifying processes, and fostering a culture where change brings benefits.

Known for her human-centered approach, she transforms traditional structures into collaborative ecosystems and guides leaders in adopting AI, creating resilient, future-ready businesses in dynamic life science markets.

Marcelina is CEO and founder of Efficiency Tactics. She supports pharma and biotech leaders in adopting AI through strategic consulting, team trainings, and keynotes. For her, AI is not just technology, but a transformation of the working world that requires strong leadership and targeted change management. Previously, she was Director of AI & Digital R&D Strategic Initiatives at Genmab, leading cross-functional teams to develop impactful AI solutions - including clinical documentation tools and a data platform for portfolio planning. She was responsible for strategy, roadmaps, and build-versus-buy decisions. With over ten years of experience in research and development, sales, and innovation, she advises start-ups in AI, biotech, and medical technology.

Jens started his career in 1997 as a freelance developer before moving to SinnerSchrader in 2001 and working as a software architect on several online banking solutions. After four years, he moved to Arvato CRM (now Teleperformance) as a project manager and has led the development of various CRM systems. Since 2020, Jens has been working at Arvato Systems as head of the AI & Cognitive Services department, where he and his team are dedicated to the development of AI-supported hyper-automation solutions and IoT applications.

Helen Yuanyuan Cao is an expert in innovation and transformation in the life sciences and healthcare industry. She combines technological future topics with modern leadership approaches. Her career began at Bain & Company, followed by leadership roles at Qiagen, Becton Dickinson, McKesson, and the spin-off Indical Biosciences. Today, she is a lecturer in innovation management at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and works as a consultant and advisory board member.

Born in China and raised in Germany, she has lived and worked in Asia, Europe, and the USA, including two years in Silicon Valley. This international experience shapes her understanding of global markets and cultural diversity. She has an interdisciplinary background in neurobiology, business administration, and management science and has been named “40 under 40” by Capital and WirtschaftsWoche.

Dr. Frederik F. Flöther is Chief Quantum Officer at QuantumBasel and a member of the Center for Quantum Computing and Quantum Coherence (QC2) at the University of Basel. Previously, he was responsible for Healthcare and Life Sciences at IBM Quantum and was inducted into the IBM Academy of Technology and appointed Master Inventor and Qiskit Advocate. His interests range from technological applications to societal implications of quantum computing and AI. He holds a PhD in photonic quantum computing from the University of Cambridge and a Professional Certificate from MIT. Frederik authorizes over 50 patents, publications, and technical papers.

Christiane Bardroff is Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Rentschler Biopharma, a leading CDMO for biopharmaceuticals. She is responsible for the company's sites in Germany and the USA. With extensive experience in developing and producing biotechnological products and automation, IT, and leadership, she brings her enthusiasm for people to her daily work. She studied biotechnology and chemical engineering in Emden and Hangzhou. She began her career at Roche, where she held various positions for over nine years. At Teva Biotech, she played a central role in constructing a highly automated production facility and, as Senior Director Operations, led the site management team and the global leadership team.

Johannes Clemens is Chief Commercial Officer at Coriolis. He is responsible for global business expansion and the development of new partnerships. Since joining the company in 2023, he has been driving forward the customer business and international service. Previously, Johannes led global business development at Vetter Pharma, an international CDMO, from 2010. He expanded the late-stage and commercial business, acquired new customers and partners, and oversaw the launch of new products and services. Johannes began his career as a co-founder of Smatos after studying economics at the University of Hohenheim.

Pembe Gül Bilir is an Innovation Engineer at the Pfizer Healthcare Hub, where she drives the introduction of innovative and sustainable technologies for the production site in Freiburg. With a strong background in chemical and process engineering, she has extensive experience in project management, leading AI and quantum initiatives as well as process optimization and plant engineering projects. Her passion for innovation, technology and digitalization motivates her to help shape the future of the pharma and biotech industry.

This year's symposium will again be held at the Bertelsmann Representative Office, Unter den Linden 1, in Berlin. It is a place of communication, cultural exchange, music, and literature, as well as an architectural gem with a historical backdrop. It has developed into a lively and diverse place in Berlin and is a meeting point for opinion leaders from politics, business and science.

The evening event on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, will also take place on the premises of the Representative Office. After a short breather in the DeJa Vu Museum, the networking will continue in a magical atmosphere.

BY CAR

We recommend parking under Bebelplatz (Q-Park Unter den Linden/Staatsoper). From there it is only a four-minute walk to the Bertelsmann Representative Office. To get to the underground parking garage, enter the following address in your navigation system: Bebelpl. 2, 10117 Berlin

Public transportation

The following stations are in the immediate vicinity of Unter den Linden 1: Museumsinsel (U5) 1 minute walk, Staatsoper (bus lines 100, 300) 3 minutes walk, Bahnhof Berlin Friedrichstraße (S1, S2, S3, S5, S7, S9, S25, S26, U6) 12 minutes walk.

Hotel de Rome - 400m

Hotel Eurostars Berlin - 900m

ARCOTEL John F Berlin - 280m

Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse - 900m

Hotel ZOE by AMANO - 900m

TITANIC Hotel Gendarmenmarkt - 500m

Please book your hotel room in good time, as other major events are taking place in Berlin at the same time as the 10th Life Science Symposium, and the demand for accommodation is increasing due to public holidays.