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HALRIC Conference in Hamburg: A Premier Gathering for Life Sciences Collaboration

Aug 12, 2024

Researchers from all Life Science disciplines are invited to interact with the HALRIC community and explore opportunities for collaboration across Northern Germany and Scandinavia, when Science City Bahrenfeld hosts the 2nd HALRIC conference on 24-25 September 2024.

Launched in 2023, the “Hanseatic Life Science Research Infrastructure Consortium (HALRIC)” brings together universities, clinicians, research institutions, life science clusters, and regional bodies from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The aim is to enhance innovation capacity across borders and disciplines in Life Science, and through 25 pilot projects HALRIC is already facilitating collaborative use of Research Infrastructures and unique techniques across its 21 partner organizations and beyond.

This conference is a unique opportunity to connect with experts and innovators in the Life Science Research Infrastructure community. “We are excited to gather our consortium partners, collaborators, and network for insightful discussions and unparalleled networking opportunities at the HALRIC conference,” says Project Director Kajsa M. Paulsson, Lund University.

Insights and Exchange

HALRIC is bringing new users from hospitals and industry to collaborative projects with the Research Infrastructures and university partners, and to warm up for the conference, Life Science Nord is facilitating a HALRIC meets industry side event.

HALRIC will also launch its Strategic Forum at the conference with a panel session as the first official activity. Key topics will be the value of transnational cooperation, challenges and barriers to developing a more integrated research and innovation area, as well as the potential of the HALRIC region and future strategies. Kajsa M. Paulsson who will moderate the session with high-level panelists notes, “This forum represents a crucial step in addressing the challenges and harnessing the potential of our region for future strategies in Life Sciences.”

Program Highlights

Discussion sessions on different research aspects and topics are planned and the conference will be opened by Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg, and Katharina Fegebank, Second Mayor and Senator for Science, City of Hamburg.

  • Panel Session: The HALRIC Strategic Forum will kick off with different perspectives from the panelists: Katharina Fegebank, Magali Poinot (IHI Europa), Christian Gerloff (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf), Thomas Feurer (European XFEL), Viktor Öwall (Lund University), David Brown (Vertex Pharmaceuticals), Ulla Gro Nielsen (Novo Nordisk Foundation).
  • Keynote Speech: Laura Edinger-Schons, Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Hamburg, will deliver the keynote address on the second day of the conference.
  • Showcase of HALRIC Pilot Projects: Participants will gain insights into various HALRIC pilot projects, with clinical and industry involvement. There will also be a poster session to feature activities and capabilities of the participating organizations.
  • HALRIC Highlights, Outlook, and Roundtable Discussion: Including an overview of the mapping of unique Research Infrastructures and demand for new solutions in the Life Science sector. The conference will be moderated over the two days by Petter Hartman (CEO, Medicon Village Innovation) and Arwen Pearson (University of Hamburg).
  • Tour of European XFEL and DESY: Included in the program and to round off the first conference day is a tour of the European XFEL. DESY and EMBL are also inviting conference participants for tours of their facilities at the Bahrenfeld Campus on the second day, with separate sign up.

Find out more if you want to connect with HALRIC and be part of this Regional Life Science Research Infrastructure community. The project is funded by EU Interreg Øresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (2023-2026).

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