The major Pharma event in Milan: the future of life sciences through the voices of its protagonists.

Reflecting on the future and bringing new visions, perspectives, and global trends that are reshaping the future of life sciences and health. Some of the world's most authoritative voices in scientific research, academia, and business will take the stage at the WOMA Forum, Inspiring the World of pharMA. This is the new international forum dedicated to the pharmaceutical, medtech, healthcare, and life sciences sectors, conceived and organized by WOMA and promoted by BioPharma Network – Association of Pharmaceutical Managers and 24OreSalute. The WOMA Forum will be held on June 25, 2026, at the Allianz MiCo in Milan, Europe's largest conference center, and is aimed at leaders, managers, and professionals in this innovative professional ecosystem. Inspiration, Education, Connection, and Action are the four key words that summarize its philosophy: inspiring new ideas, transferring knowledge, building relationships between research, industry, and institutions, and helping transform visions into initiatives. WOMA was born at a time of profound transformation for the Life Sciences ecosystem, driven by the growing development of innovative therapeutic solutions, the evolution of economic and regulatory systems, and the need for more agile decision-making models.

Internationally renowned experts and leaders will take turns taking the stage. Among the first announced speakers are Jennifer Doudna , winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for co-discovering the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology; Bertalan Meskó , founder of the Medical Futurist Institute and a leading global expert on digital innovation in healthcare; Amy Cuddy , social psychologist and author of the bestselling book Presence, one of the most influential voices in the field of leadership; and Zack Kass , an international expert in AI adoption strategies in the corporate world and former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI. They will be joined by José Manuel Barroso , former President of the European Commission—who in that capacity accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 together with the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz , and the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy , on behalf of the European Union—former Prime Minister of Portugal and current President of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world's children against some of the deadliest diseases. As part of its mission to save lives and protect people's health through equitable and sustainable vaccine use, Gavi has helped vaccinate over 1.2 billion children in 78 low-income countries, preventing more than 20.6 million future deaths.* Other prominent names will be added in the coming months to complete the WOMA 2026 panel.

The agenda will range from the evolution of the Pharma & Health ecosystem to the future and pioneering applications of digital technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence in the fields of prevention, treatment, and research. A focus will be on the inspiration of scientific research as a driver of progress, future leadership in the context of technological and generational changes, strategies for adopting artificial intelligence in companies in the sector, industrial strategies for addressing increasingly complex and interconnected markets, and finally, health economy models and scenarios to pursue for global health. "WOMA was born from dialogue with industry leaders, a project built through listening and collaboration, giving voice to those who are currently helping to reshape the future, contributing to highly relevant issues and bringing inspirational visions and profoundly innovative perspectives to Italy. The world-class speakers who have accepted our invitation testify to the relevance and vision of the initiative," says Florencia Bechara , CEO of WOMA – Inspiring the World of pharMA.

"BioPharma Network, a non-profit cultural association in the sector, has been promoting managerial culture, innovation, and career guidance for years, with initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue between professionals, companies, universities, and institutions," said Michele Barletta , President of BioPharma Network – Association of Pharmaceutical Managers. "In this context, an inspirational, international event dedicated to our sector represents a unique and highly valuable opportunity given the relevance and rapid pace of transformation that characterizes this strategic sector. Our goal, as promoters of the WOMA Forum, is to continue to contribute concretely with our expertise to the development of high-value projects that offer professionals new tools and insights to better interpret the major transformations underway and further enhance our professionalism." "WOMA perfectly embodies Milan's vision as a platform for global dialogue on science, leadership, and innovation: an event that not only generates connections, but also contributes concretely to building a lasting legacy for the Milanese ecosystem, strengthening the link between education, business, and institutions. This is further evidence of the country's established role as a hub of excellence and a point of reference in the international life sciences landscape," confirmed Fiorenza Lipparini , General Director of YES Milano, the Forum's institutional partner.